August 19, 2009 – A lot of interesting things can be said about King’s Academy, which had its first-ever first day of school Tuesday.

Yes, it’s historical. As Augusta County schools began the school year, the first private school opened by a predominantly black church — Oak Grove Baptist Church in Waynesboro — also opened with 16 students.

“This is history in the making,” said Pastor T.E. Payne Sr, of the faith-based school’s start. “This is a first.”

Yes, it’s an interesting style of teaching — a throwback to the days when religion could be taught in public schools. But more than religion merely being part of the lesson plan, it is the objective. The idea is to combine religion, the missing component in education, King’s Academy teachers say.

“Every class starts each day with a Bible study because it is the most important,” said Linda Lassiter, one of three teachers at the school. “It doesn’t separate their worlds. So they don’t have their faith over here and school over there. Hopefully they are learning the same thing at church, the same thing at school and the same thing at home. We are taking a very holistic approach.”

Children learn numbers in Tammy Martin’s kindergarten class at King’s Academy on Tuesday. King’s Academy in Waynesboro opened its doors for the first day of school on Tuesday. (Pat Jarrett/The News Leader)

Classes are small — very small — allowing for more one-on-one instruction.

The curriculum is taught using Abeka Home School, which is done mostly through DVD instruction.

“It’s fun,” said eighth-grader Kaylin Smith, 13, of Staunton. “I like it a lot because it’s video and I can pause it when I am taking notes. I can keep up with it faster.”

Payne said one of the reasons Abeka was chosen was to allow students to work at their own pace.

The thing that really stands out about King’s Academy is the people.

Isaiah Lassiter, 5, leads prayer before lunch next to his grandmother, founder Linda Lassiter, during the first day on Tuesday at King’s Academy. (Pat Jarrett/The News Leader)

Lassiter is a one-woman dynamo. With fast, deliberate steps she shuffled around King’s Academy handing out Bibles, setting up laptops and searching for equipment. No matter what, she never stopped moving.

Lassiter, 59, of Staunton was a part of the Staunton City School District for 30 years, teaching special education at Thomas Dixon and Bessie Weller elementary schools. She also taught for seven years in Harrisonburg. Lassiter has a bachelor’s degree in special education, a master’s of education from James Madison University and a master’s of divinity from Virginia Union University.

Source: Heather Kays (hkays@newsleader.com), The News Leader