Six years ago when her family first enrolled at Academy at the Lakes, the Wendlek Campus was, as Kara Sartain put it, “a little sore on the eyes.” However, based on the recommendations of several AATL families, Kara and Jim Sartain looked past the physical appearance of the Lower Division and enrolled their oldest daughter, Olivia ’24.
“The teachers and the experience were phenomenal,” said Kara. “Olivia thrived and the teachers and everyone were so nice. We fell in love with the school.”
Later, the Sartains enrolled their younger daughter, Sarah ’26.
“In the six years we’ve been at Academy, the physical changes to the campus have been unbelievable,” said Kara. “Now it’s a true joy to tell someone to go look at the school. The facilities are better and the transformation is incredible. Of course, you’re wrapped up in the teachers, and that really is the best part.”
When school administrators began to explore the possibility of building a new playground on the Wendlek Campus, Kara and her husband, Jim, stepped up in a big way. Their lead gift to the Play it Forward campaign was the impetus for the project and set the stage for an aggressive summer timeline completion.
“We saw the transformation of the Lower Division building, and then they built the Reinhart Family Deck,” said Kara. “But the rest of the back area of the campus still needed help. The kids are out on the playground a lot. It’s hot, it’s Florida. We thought, ‘Let’s clean the back up and wow this as much as we can.’”
At the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Sartain Family Playground, Kara and Jim recognized how the community had come together to help not only current Lower Division students, but all of the children who will Play it Forward it in years to come.
“It was wonderful to see the kids happy and everybody enjoying it,” said Kara. “It’s so great that everybody came together and had the same passion that we did. Every little bit helps – it all came together. Our kids are getting to enjoy it and future kids will get to enjoy it as well.”
