Macon Charter Academy lets students pick their teachers

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A school that lets students choose their teachers is just one of the unique features of the Macon Charter Academy.

“When people all over the state want to see how you teach students, they’ll say we need to come look at what MCA is doing,” explained Macon Charter Academy’s Principal Dr. Ron Boykins.

Technology, community involvement, and an international focus will set MCA apart from other schools.

“It’s something different because what we really want to do is prepare our students to be able to compete with other students, not just here in Middle Georgia, but to be able to compete internationally,” said Dr. Boykins.

The school’s 850 students will be exposed to the latest learning tools.

“There will be a couple hundred Surface 3 computers, big computer screens, interactive boards. We’re talking about distance learning capabilities,” explained Dr. Boykins.

The “Future Center” at Macon Charter Academy is two stories tall and will have technology all over the walls. School leaders were deciding between a library and a technology center. They said books were old school and technology is the future.

“When you come to Macon Charter Academy you move from being a student to being a scholar,” said the school’s co-founder Charles Rutland.

Scholars are even getting to pick their teachers.

“Every faculty has to do a performance audition before actual Macon Charter Academy scholars and they have to pass that threshold before they can be hired,” explained Rutland.

School leaders have interviewed about 100 people and had a 40% acceptance rate from the students. They’re still looking to fill about four more positions. To get the community involved, a mural along the Walnut Street wall will feature local artists and MCA scholars.

“To express, artistically, their hopes, their dreams, their aspirations,” explained Rutland.

Three crews are working every day until the school opens on August 3, 2015. A charter developer is paying for the $8.5 million project. Dr. Boykins expects the school to have all of its features by the first day of school. He adds the school is working on a back up plan just in case.

It took three petitions before the Bibb County School Board approved Macon Charter Academy. MCA founders filed the first one in 2008.