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While growing up and going to school, it was the tough teacher who had the biggest impact on Peter Ruppert's life.
His experiences fit nicely with the philosophy of Education Development Corp., which touts teaching students core academics and values, and hired him a month ago to run the organization.
"The best teachers were the ones who were most demanding. The ones who made an impression were the ones who wouldn't accept mediocrity," said the former marketing consultant, who attended public and parochial schools while growing up in Cincinnati.
As EDC's new director, he is in charge of providing technical assistance and ongoing management to four public charter schools in West Michigan and handling the quick growth the company has experienced since its founding two years ago. As EDC finishes its second year of managing charter schools, it is preparing to more than double its load by opening five more schools this fall and expanding several of its existing sites.
EDC's philosophy is to provide administrative support for the schools, but leave control of the classroom and programs up to the principals, teachers and parents.
"We do the administrative work, the financial work. The more we can take the hassles...