About Us
History

1993

Academic, Technology Initiatives Set In Motion

The Academy moved forward in academics during the Fall of 1993 with the beginning of the Carroll Scholars Honor Program. This accelerated honors program is designed to prepare students for the top colleges and universities in the country.
These select students attend classes with a demanding curriculum combined with individualized instruction and technology assisted learning.

Following the initiation of the Carroll Program, Advanced Placement classes were added in the Fall of 1995 for students wanting an academic challenge with the opportunity to earn college credit upon completion of the course. In 2002, the dual-credit college program was initiated with one psychology class. Today, students can earn from 30-50 hours of college credit while completing high school at the Academy.

Technology at the Academy continues to grow allowing students better computer access with current technology. In 1994, the Dr. Gwen K. Smith Technology Enriched Learning Center and the Kenneth Kendal King Information Technology Center opened. Teachers use these facilities for instruction, and students use the computers throughout the day for their assignments. Students with personal computers enjoy campus-wide internet and wireless connectivity. Technology infrastructure throughout the campus was upgraded and replaced prior to the 2008-09 school year thanks to significant gifts by alumni and friends.

Upon his retirement in 1996, Dr. Byrom was named Chancellor of the Academy and also served as president of the SMBA Foundation. His successor was Dr. Paul W. Armes.

During Dr. Armes’s administration, LTC Victor Schmidt moved from his position as commandant/dean of boys to serve as principal. In June of 2000, Mr. Schmidt was named executive vice president, working closely with Dr. Armes in directing the various Academy programs. Dr. Armes resigned early in 2001 to accept the presidency of Wayland Baptist University. Before naming a new president, the Board of Trustees conducted an extensive study of the Academy in order to lay out a plan for the future of the school search for the right leader to direct that plan. In November 2001, the Board named Victor Schmidt as the twelfth president of the Academy.
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