By creating Butler Academy, Dr. Reyes has stamped his commitment to closing the achievement gap between white and black students in Darlington County, as well as with students living in poverty, facing disabilities, and coping with adverse childhood experiences. Located in Hartsville, South Carolina, a rural community of 8,000 residents, Butler Academy is dynamic learning environment where every child is embraced and uplifted, while being diligently positioned for social, emotional, and academic success. Despite significant prosperity, Hartsville has longstanding inequity in academic success. While the disparities are stark, the truth is, that families of all income levels and backgrounds in Darlington County face challenges in the academic arena. As a county, only 30% of our students in grades 3–8 read at or above grade level. This number lags the state by 11% and lags the national average by a larger margin. Through a rigorous curriculum, carefully chosen faculty and staff, Butler Academy aims to change this narrative. We’re on a mission to buck the status quo, shift the mindset of the community, and create an equitable academic culture once and for all. There’s no school like BA.