How Flagstaff Academy is Turning Today’s Students into Tomorrow’s Leaders
At Flagstaff Academy in Longmont, education extends beyond the classroom walls. Through responsibility- and skill-building programs like the Dragon Safety Patrol and VEX IQ Robotics, students gain hands-on experience in leadership, safety and technology—skills that translate directly into career readiness and civic engagement.
The Dragon Safety Patrol, for example, is designed for 5th through 8th grade students and it doesn’t just teach safety—it instills leadership skills, promotes responsibility and fosters meaningful connections throughout the school and the broader community.
“These students aren’t just helping out around campus,” explains Tim Rumsey, Flagstaff Academy's safety supervisor. “They're learning chain-of-command responsibilities, acquiring life-saving skills through Red Cross CPR and first aid training, and building rapport with first responders and staff members across our school.”
The program’s rigorous requirements, including maintaining a minimum 2.75 GPA, providing two staff references and demonstrating commitment to the core virtues (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability and Empathy), prepare students for the accountability they’ll face in future careers. Dragon Safety Patrol members assist crossing guards, support drive-line operations under adult supervision and patrol school grounds, giving them practical experience in safety management and community service.
In addition, Dragon Safety Patrol members visit local first responders at their facilities, creating direct pathways between classroom learning and career exploration. These experiences help students envision themselves as future paramedics, firefighters, police officers or emergency management professionals.
This is precisely what Colorado’s charter school laws enable. By granting schools like Flagstaff Academy the autonomy to design innovative programs tailored to student needs, charter legislation ensures that families across Colorado have access to free, high-quality public education that goes beyond standardized approaches.
“Charter school flexibility allows us to respond to what our students and community need,” Executive Principal Katie Gustafson says. “We can create programs that develop not just academic skills, but the leadership qualities and practical experience that prepare students to thrive in whatever path they choose.”
The Dragon Safety Patrol participants receive school-provided t-shirts and safety belts, but more importantly they gain confidence, responsibility and a sense of purpose. They learn to serve others before and after school, support school events and take on meaningful roles that prepare them for leadership throughout their lives.
For families seeking schools that prioritize real-life experience alongside academic excellence, programs like Dragon Safety Patrol represent the power of educational choice. Colorado’s charter school laws make such innovation possible, ensuring that students across the state have access to free, high-quality public school options that prepare them not just for tests, but for life.
To learn more about Flagstaff Academy's innovative programs, visit https://www.flagstaffacademy.org/.
