SUMMERDALE, Ala. — When school starts back on Thursday, August 11 at Alabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy, not only will there be new students, there will be a new principal as well.

Thad Butts will be taking over the helm vacated by Lester Smith, who retired at the end of last year, and is very excited about his upcoming year.

Originally from Mobile and a graduate of Mobile Christian Academy in 1995, Butts said it was good to be back closer to home and he is looking forward to getting to know the students and the school.

“Because this school is in its infancy, it gives me an opportunity to grow it and create a stronger academic atmosphere and increase spiritual involvement among the students. I also want to expand on the extracurricular activities and athletics like Caleb’s Field,” (baseball) Butts said.

Graduating from Auburn University in 2000 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education -and from the University of South Alabama in 2005 with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, Butts spent seven years teaching Social Studies and Bible at his alma mater, Mobile Christian, and then moved to Mt. Dora, Fl, near Orlando, and was Assistant Principal at Christian Home and Bible School from 2007 until now.

“We really enjoyed our time in Florida but when this opportunity came to move closer to mine and my wife’s parents, we took it. We love this area,” said Butts, who lives in Foley.

With an enrollment of 80 students so far, Butts is hopeful the enrollment will increase as the year goes on and it is up by about 20 students from the start of last year. While they are not adding any classes, the number of students in some will increase and Butt’s wife will be joining the staff as a Preschool teacher.

AGCCA teaches the Alabama Course of Study and students attend a 15 minute Chapel service every morning with songs and a devotional message. In the classroom, Pre-K- fifth grade are taught Bible stories by their teachers while grades 6-12 take a Bible elective class taught by Ben Coxwell. There are also Chorus and ensemble classes available as well.

Because both his parents are teachers at Mobile Christian (mom is assistant principal and dad teaches art and physics), Butts got the teaching bug as well and up until this job was also a football, baseball, track and softball coach.

“It feels strange not to be coaching and my wife is not going to know what to think we I come home at 5 p.m. every day. I would love to have a sports program here as well. we just need to gauge the parents’ interest with it,” Butts said.

In addition to his wife teaching, his six and nine year old kids will be attending too. “It’s going to be a family affair.”

In his spare time, Butts enjoys hunting, fishing and being a proud Auburn fan.

Tuition and fees for AGCCA are $3,600 a year but there is financial aid and scholarships

available for those who need it and payment plans are available. And because AGCCA is a private school and depends on tuition and donations to stay afloat, support from the community and parents is essential.

Located on the corner of County Road 28 and 71, AGCCA got its’ start with 21 students in 2005 and met in the Summerdale Church of Christ and even though AGCCA started small, it has grown tremendously in the last five years and was able to move into its’ present location in 2008, thanks to Margie Snook’s generous donation of five acres of land.

For more info about AGCCA, contact (251) 989-2333 , visit ww.gccacademy.org or visit their Facebook page. Donations can also be made to AGCCA, P.O. Box 420, Summerdale, Al 36580