Paul Kirchharr and the students at Sumter Academy have one bright shining thing in common – the first day of school.

Kirchharr was recently selected as Sumter’s new Headmaster this past summer.

“Sumter’s a great school and a great place to be,” said Kirchharr. “While I’m here, I’d like to be able to build a good academic foundation with the kids here so they cam move onto college. I also hope to instill in them good moral values that they can keep throughout life. Hopefully, I can also teach them about Christ.”

As a youngster, Kirchharr spent his days in the blue and grey of Wilcox Academy before becoming a Livingston University Tiger.

After leaving what is now the University of West Alabama, Kirchharr journeyed to Mobile College and took a job as a youth minister.

He also met his future wife, Sissy, while on the coast.

“My wife and I wanted to get closer to home,” said Kirchharr.

Although they met in Mobile, Sissy is originally from Pascagoula, Miss.

Under the watchful eye of the new headmaster, Sumter Academy has now gone to offering three different diplomas.

Two are college-prep style and the other is the traditional high school diploma.

“We’ve gone to offering a standard, an advanced academic and an advanced honors diploma,” said Kirchharr. “We’ve got several students that are on the advanced honors track, but the majority is on the advanced academic.”