Dear Editor,
Seventeen years ago I had the privilege of working with a small group of concerned citizens to improve education opportunities in Greene County.
The decision was made to establish a charter school, and five members of the GCBOE believed in and approved the first charter 16 years ago. Soon after, Dr. Otho Tucker was hired as the school leader and moved to Greensboro from North Carolina in a matter of two short weeks to put the wheels into motion to start Greene County’s first start-up charter school.
Dr. Tucker quickly got to work providing leadership and guidance to get Lake Oconee Academy off the ground for the students of Greene County.
His vision of what a school campus should look like was instrumental in the design of the LOA campus being open and modern and not like other institutional-looking buildings.
He assembled the best staff anywhere and encouraged them to use their creative style to flourish. I don’t know how many times he’s told me from year to year that the current staff is the best one he’s ever had.
No doubt, teachers are the difference-makers in creating successful students, and Dr. Tucker has always been the first to tell you that. But all great schools must have great leadership at the top and he provided that leadership.
I worked with Dr. Tucker for 15 years and I know he faced some difficult times and differing opinions with others within the county. But Dr. Tucker wasn’t a politician, he did the right thing for all students regardless of gender, skin color, ethnicity or social background. His focus was always first and foremost on the students of Lake Oconee Academy.
For 16 years, Dr. Tucker worked 12 to 14 hours daily, making LOA what it is today. Seventeen years ago, I don’t believe anyone would have said there would be a National Blue Ribbon School in Greene County, but one man believed in the potential to make that happen – Dr. Otho Tucker.
To Dr. Tucker: I hope you enjoy a little free time now. And on behalf of the hundreds and thousands of future students who will walk the hallways of Lake Oconee Academy, thank you for your vision and leadership.
Job well done, Sir!
Mark Lipscomb