A quick conversation with the team at Leman Academy about the distinct educational style at its three Tucson-area campuses.
How visible is Dr. Kevin Leman's philosophy in day-to-day instruction, and how do teachers translate it into classroom practice?
Dr. Leman's vision shapes our schools through a classical education built on the belief that every scholar is capable of growth and meaningful achievement. Strong relationships between teachers, scholars, and families are central to both his work and the classical model.
We've incorporated classical principles — Socratic seminars, Latin, Logic, and classical novel studies — into our classrooms. Calling students "scholars" is intentional: it reflects the expectation that children engage with challenging ideas and take ownership of their learning. Teachers bring this to life by connecting history, literature, art, and music into a unified learning experience.
How does the curriculum handle Southern Arizona's history and borderlands culture?
Classical education provides a strong foundation while encouraging connections across disciplines and time periods — and that foundation isn't isolated from the communities where scholars live. In Southern Arizona, that includes Arizona history, Ted DeGrazia's art, and indigenous cultures of the Southwest. We explore the traditions and perspectives that have shaped our borderland community.
What drove the decision to expand across the Tucson metro so quickly?
Dr. Leman lives here, raised his family here, and has called Tucson home most of his life. The school started here because this is his community. As demand grew, additional campuses opened to serve more families. As a tuition-free public charter school, we're one of many choices available to Arizona families. Each campus serves its own community but delivers the same core experience: classical learning, high expectations, and teachers who truly know their scholars.
4. How much of Central Tucson's enrollment is drawn from TUSD, and what does that competition mean?
Leman Central Tucson serves families from a variety of educational backgrounds — district schools, private schools, homeschool environments, and first-time enrollees. We don't view our role as competing with TUSD. Arizona's public education system is built around family choice, and our goal is simply to provide another tuition-free option for families seeking a classical approach.
5. How does Leman recruit and retain teachers, and how do salaries compare with TUSD, Marana, and Amphi?
Across all campuses, we cap classrooms at 27 students for grades 1–8; kindergarten runs a 27:2 ratio with an aide for every lead teacher. We recruit educators who want to lead within a classical model and retain them through professional development, leadership support, and our annual Leadership Summit. Educators are drawn to the opportunity to build lasting relationships with scholars and families within a culture centered on academic excellence and character.
6. What does parent partnership look like concretely — volunteer expectations, curriculum input, governance roles?
Parent partnership is one of the defining aspects of the Leman Academy experience. Scholars are most successful when schools and families share expectations and a commitment to growth. Parents don't direct curriculum or operations, but they are essential partners — volunteering in classrooms, coaching sports, supporting site security through Watch D.O.G.S, and leading PTAs.
7. What strategies is Leman deploying at lower-performing campuses, and is the classical model being adapted for more urban student populations?
Some third-party ratings reflect 2023–24 data. Since then, Leman Central Tucson has earned an A rating from Arizona's A–F Accountability System, with strong academic growth results. Each campus serves a unique community; we continuously analyze data, invest in teacher development, and provide targeted supports. Our commitment to classical education remains consistent across all campuses — high expectations and a strong academic foundation shouldn't depend on a scholar's ZIP code.
8. How closely do Tucson campuses mirror surrounding neighborhood demographics, particularly for English learners, students with disabilities, and low-income families?
Leman is a tuition-free public charter school with open enrollment and no entrance requirements. Our campuses serve scholars from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, including English learners, scholars receiving special education services, military-connected families, and scholars experiencing housing instability. Through McKinney-Vento and Arizona Purple Star Schools designations, we support the unique needs of every community we serve.
9. How does character instruction translate into discipline policy, and how do suspension and attrition numbers compare with nearby districts?
At Leman, discipline is an extension of education, not simply correcting behavior with the ultimate goal of helping scholars grow both their hearts and minds. Our approach emphasizes relational discipline: natural and logical consequences, clear expectations, and accountability, in partnership with families. Regarding suspension rates or attrition compared with surrounding districts, we would want to review current data to ensure any comparison is accurate and provides appropriate context.
10. What are Leman's next moves in the Tucson market — new grades, new campuses — and how is preschool revenue kept separate from public charter dollars?
Future decisions about campuses or grade levels will be guided by family demand, our mission, and our ability to maintain quality. Our tuition-based preschool complements the K–8 mission by offering a classical early learning option before kindergarten. As with all public charter schools, public funding and private preschool tuition are managed separately in accordance with applicable financial and regulatory requirements.