Headmaster

Greetings from the Headmaster and Co-Founder, Daniel Kennedy

A Family That Reads Together

Succeeds Together

Dear SMA Parents, Guardians, and Cadets,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome all of our new and returning families to YOUR school--The Sarasota Military Academy for the 2008-09 school year. Through the partnership of parents, administrators, faculty members, cadets, and the Sarasota school community we have accomplished so many things never before achieved in public school education. In addition to our other awards, I have the pleasure of announcing to you that SMA has once again been selected as a Five Star School. For the past few years, SMA has been the only high school in Sarasota County to win this award from the Florida State Department of Education. Thank you, Jann Vasiloff for your sterling work in this regard.

A great deal of excitement surrounds the opening of our brand new 31,000 sq. ft. building. It's an imposing and dignified structure befitting the great goals and traditions of SMA. In the near future I will provide details on our Grand Opening ceremonies. However, we expect the facilities to be fully functional when we open on August 18, 2008. There will be new state-of-the-art science laboratories, 14 new classrooms, a full scale gymnasium with a weight room, locker rooms, and a library/ media center. This will greatly enhance the educational opportunities available here at the Academy. Please let me know if you are aware of anyone who would like to contribute to our building fund.

Naming possibilities are limitless.  I am proud to announce the appointment of our new Senior Army Instructor (SAI) , Colonel Michael P. Ryan. I want to offer my sincere thanks and best wishes to our previous SAI, Major Smith, who has accepted a similar position at another school. Welcome aboard, Colonel Ryan!

 School will open on August 18th. New students will wear the white polo shirt and blue (full length or short) slacks with a blue belt for the first 4-6 weeks of school. These items are available from Children's World which has relocated its store to Bee Ridge Road. Wear of the Class B uniform or the polo uniform is required. No other attire is permissible.

 Recent 7.5% cutbacks (with more cutbacks a possibility) by the Florida Legislature will result in a very tight budget year. We would really appreciate the contribution of $100 from every family to help defray expenses for consumable supplies. We realize that this is too much for some of our families and that other families might consider giving more. Whatever you can afford, your generosity is deeply appreciated.

 Parents and students who drive will find a reconfigured driveway through the campus and newly designed parking areas. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic have been separated for safety and convenience. This should result in additional parking spaces for our faculty, visitors, and senior cadets. Please drive safely as we all become accustomed to the new patterns and paths the first week or so.

Every five years all schools, colleges, and universities accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) must undergo a self study resulting in the submission of a Standards Assessment Report (SAR). We submitted our report on April 21, and it was approved without the request for a single word of change on April 30, 2008. Submission of the SAR is followed by a visit from a three member Quality Assurance Review Team (QART). This three member, three day visit will be held on October 19-21, 2008. On October 20th various teachers, parents, cadets, and community members will be interviewed. Those who are conducting the interviews will need to sense the passion that all feel toward the Academy, its rich traditions, and its vibrant future.  Professor Robert Lechner, the SMA Director of Instruction, has served throughout SMA's existence as our SACS Internal Facilitator. He has become one of the most highly regarded experts on accreditation in the State of Florida. In fact, in June of this year he delivered three 90 minute speeches to the Florida Conference of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. No other school, college, or university was afforded such an honor. We are indeed fortunate to be placed on this academic pedestal by our accrediting agency. Remember, we are the only high school, college, or university ever to be accredited by SACS in only our second year of existence (2003-04).

On a related note, Professor Lechner will be completing his 43rd year in education including 30 years as a teacher in the Sarasota District Schools. During this time he taught more than 5,000 students and was named the "Sarasota County Teacher of the Year." He followed this up with a seven year career as a University Supervisor with The University of South Florida. Then, of course, he has been our Director of Instruction the past seven years. Professor Lechner has informed me that he intends to retire at the conclusion of the 2008-09 school year.  His many contributions will be greatly missed. I'm sure I have placed a "no leaving us" clause somewhere in the fine print of his contract, so we won't let him get away from SMA completely. I'm sure he would appreciate a word of thanks the next time you see him.

My open door policy will always be in place. Call me, or come in and see me at your convenience. The great traditions of SMA didn't fall into place by accident. We have worked together to create a whole new outlook on public school education in America. Let's set our minds on that "A" school rating this year. Read, read, and read even more. Check out the headmaster's suggested reading list on the SMA website. A family that reads together succeeds together.  May every blessing and happiness come to you and your family. We are here to help you in any way we can. Please buckle up for safety, and be a defensive driver.

Onward.

Daniel F. Kennedy, Headmaster

Home | Up