Faith, Choice, and the Snake Barn: Gov. Abbott Talks School Choice at ACPA

(Post sponsored by Tinsley Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy.)

By Michael V. Hannigan

Nobody ever thought the governor would be in the Snake Barn, but Tuesday night, that’s exactly where he was.

The Governor was on stage at the Athens Christian Preparatory Academy Snake Barn, packed with TV cameras, with more than 200 people seated inside including local and state dignitaries, and dozens more outside listening.

True, it is now called the Multipurpose Building after a year-long renovation made possible by funding, dedicated contractors, and the hard work and prayers from parents. It looks good all the way down to the scriptures written into the foundation, a reminder that the school has always depended on faith as much as resources.

But the building will always be known as the Snake Barn at ACPA, and that's where Texas Gov. Greg Abbott decided to deliver a speech about public education and Education Savings Accounts, better known to most people as school vouchers.

"Texas should provide the best education for our students of any state in the United States of America," he said. "Texas is number one in so many ways... It’s time that we as a state, set our sights on another number one—Texas must be number one in educating our children."

Governor Abbott outlined three main goals for improving education in Texas. First, he said the state needs to invest in teachers by giving them better training and support. Second, he talked about making sure students learn the basics, like reading, writing, and math, while also understanding citizenship and patriotism. Lastly, he said parents should have the power to choose the best school for their children because they know what’s best for their kids’ education.

"Parents must be empowered to choose a school that's best for their child," he said. "The way to do that is through school choice with Education Savings Accounts."

It is an important issue at the State level with the Governor identifying it as an "Emergency Item" in the Legislature. The debate is too complex to fully explain in a single story, so I won’t weigh the pros and cons here.

I do think the Snake Barn was an interesting place for a talk about parental choice, however, because long before Abbott became governor, now retired founder and superintendent Teresa DeMay was working to give families in Athens an option beyond public education. In 2008, she founded Athens Christian Preparatory Academy to fill a gap in the community — Christian education existed through eighth grade, but there was no local high school alternative.

"Families had already been choosing private education for decades before ACPA even existed," she said. "The goal was to provide a local option so that these families could stay local."

And she was successful, along with Vice President of Students and Operations Melanie Whatley, who has been a part of ACPA since the beginning, and Head of School Brent Williams, who joined when Athens Christian Academy (elementary level) joined ACPA (high school level).

But all three of them know that when it comes to private education, the real change agent isn’t government or money — it’s God.

And they knew as they watched the snake barn filling up in anticipation Tuesday night that the Governor coming to town was just another in a long line of miracles.

Mrs. Whately pointed out that the Governor's Office approached ACPA to be the venue.

"We're so proud and honored to be chosen," she said and then looked at the Multipurpose Building that will always be known as the Snake Barn and added, "When we dedicated this building, the moms were praying. Look what happens when moms think things can happen. That's how this place got started."

"It's always been God," Mrs. DeMay said. "His hands have been on this school since the very beginning. When these big, miraculous things happen -- and this is miraculous -- I can't even muster up surprise anymore. I wait on Him with expectation."