This school year was the first year of the Patriot Global Academy, but the program is expanding next year.

The teachers joining the Academy for the 2026-2027 school year are English teacher Shannon Lesko, science teacher Brad Zerman, math teacher Rachel Allender, social studies teacher Carrie Steele, and P.E. teacher Michelle Dempsey. And there may be some others joining in year two. These teachers joining in year two will be teaching the sophomores next year. 

The plan is to eventually have all four grades in PGA, according to Gebhard.

“We’re going to try to add new freshmen, and then our freshmen are going to move to sophomores. That’ll still continue as a half-day afternoon program as of right now. That’s our plan. Of course, everything we do is to really try to adapt to what’s best for kids and make changes. We have already done that so many times this year. We’re in a really good place now. But, you know, it’s all about how we need to make adjustments. But the plan right now is that all freshmen and sophomores, then once they go to junior and senior year, it will be a morning program,” said Gebhard

Gebhard then explained what the overall and final goal is for the program.

“Everything’s about learning, learning, learning, and then communicating. And then at the end of the program, they will complete their capstone course, which is a portfolio linking to those specific global leader standards. Something extra they will get is a certificate at the end. They can put that on their college applications,” Gebhard said. 

As PGA continues to expand, the “school within a school” will possibly take up more of the former World Language area, according to Gebhard.  

“The plan is, I believe, but we don’t know again. I think it’s all flexible. [The plan is] to expand through this hallway because there’s only a couple of teachers there, and then that would be all the space we would ever need,” she said. 

One of the teachers joining PGA next year is Lesko.

“When I talk to people like my parents, my aunts and uncles, when I hear about how education felt when I was in school, and then when I think about what a lot of students experience, you get an assignment on Monday, you do an activity in class, you go home, you do homework, and then I think the thought about just expanding with what you could do to make education different and help students learn in a better way, in a different way, is really cool,” said Lesko

This school year, Lesko was voted on by her colleagues as South’s Teacher of the Year. Lesko talked about what makes her a successful teacher. 

“I think I’m a pretty creative person. So I think in my classes, inside PGA and outside PGA, I am always trying to think about what could make this more fun? What could make this lesson stick better with students? How could I change something? I make tons of notes about what went well last year and what I want to try to do differently. So hopefully, just bringing more creativity about how to think outside the box and try new things, and especially with giving students more choices and how they want to do learning,” said Lesko.

Along with Lesko, Zerman is joining the PGA staff. He touched on some of the things he will bring next year.

“I think a different perspective than teachers that are already in there, and more of an expertise in biology,” said Zerman.

Zerman discussed what brought him to join.

“The whole concept seemed pretty interesting, and I’ve always been the kind of teacher who likes to try new stuff, so it’s something different I want to try. And it sounds pretty cool,” he said. 

PGA’s expansion isn’t just about the teachers; it’s also about the students. Freshman Foster Wade, who is in the PGA, talked about his first year so far in the PGA.

“Yeah, it’s been really good. I have had a lot of fun. I think it’s really flexible and more open to creativity,” said Wade.

PGA doesn’t stop Wade and his fellow PGA classmates from interacting with students not in the program. 

“[I get to see other people] at lunch. I think it’s a great time to get to know other people, especially for me, because my friends have friends, and they get invited over,” said Wade. 

Wade also talks about his expectations of growing throughout his time in the program. He said he will remain in PGA next year.

“I think I will be able to connect my learning more to actual current events. I’m pretty disconnected from the news, which has burned me a few times, but I’ve been especially [connected with the news] recently, because of PGA. I’ve been able to keep up a little more and stay relevant,” he said. 

Gebhard addresses some of the thoughts by South students that PGA is taking all the good teachers away from the rest of the student body. 

“Well, that’s very flattering. I don’t really think that narrative is true though. I think that’s the perception, because kids in PGA are enjoying their time, right? I think our students do really like us and care about us, and think that we’re good teachers because we’ve built a program, we do get to do some more fun things and cool things. We do get to bond with them more because we’re all together, much more,” said Gebhard.