Cumberland Academy (CA) is a proposed Cheatham County school whose mission is to empower Cheatham County’s next generation of community leaders who are inquisitive, inspired, and resilient.

CA will be a free, public, open enrollment charter school in Cheatham County. CA will set high academic expectations for all students and, as a charter school, will have flexibility in guiding students toward those expectations. Additionally, CA is developing a leadership and character development program to compliment its academic curriculum. Ultimately, this dual-purpose education will prepare students to excel as scholars and leaders, and create opportunities for graduating students to have choices after high school.

CA is engaging the community and parents from the start. The school has developed a long-term community engagement plan, which began in February 2014 with weekly parent information sessions. When the school opens, parents will be encouraged to help with the design and day-to-day operations of the school. Additionally, co-founders Jimmy Hopper and Jonny Gersten have put together an Academic Advisory team that includes former Cheatham County Principal Mickey Dyce and Jared Bigham (Executive Director, Tennessee Rural Education Association) in order to ensure success for students.

The Cheatham County Board of Education will be considering Cumberland Academy's charter application after April 1st of this year, and the support of parents and community members throughout the County will help aid the Board’s decision. This petition is meant to show the excitement and support of Cheatham County parents in having the CCBOE provide this new opportunity for their children and the community.