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Uncertainty at GOP-Linked Charter Leaves Fort Myers Parents Scrambling

Kathleen Cetola enrolled her 9-year-old grandson, Landon, when construction began on Optima Classical Academy near their Fort Myers home in 2023, attracted by smaller class sizes and a traditional, "less woke" curriculum.

The campus is part of the Optima network founded by Erika Donalds and was planned as her fifth classical charter. Donalds is married to Rep. Byron Donalds, a possible Republican candidate for Florida governor.

The situation has drawn attention to transparency and curriculum concerns as families weigh charter alternatives amid growing interest in classical education models.

09:08 PM, 12/02/2025Politics

Kathleen Cetola believed she had found the right fit for her 9-year-old grandson, Landon, when construction began on Optima Classical Academy near her Fort Myers home in 2023. As Landon’s primary caregiver, Cetola said she was drawn to the smaller class sizes and a traditional curriculum she expected to be "less woke" than his current public school.

"Regarding gender and race, I want him to be able to make up his own mind," Cetola said. "They were selling the fact that they were focused on the education and the classical type of teaching. I thought that was going to be a great opportunity for Landon."

The Fort Myers campus is part of the Optima network founded by Erika Donalds. The project was presented as Donalds’ fifth classical charter school and as an example of the growing interest in charter-style, classical education models in the region. Erika Donalds is married to Rep. Byron Donalds, who is discussed as a potential contender in next year’s Florida gubernatorial race.

Families like Cetola’s say they were attracted by promises of smaller classes and a curriculum emphasizing traditional subjects and civic literacy. At the same time, some parents and community members have voiced concern about transparency, governance and how schools in the Optima network will address sensitive subjects such as race and gender.

Local interest in classical-charter options underscores a broader debate over school choice and curriculum across the state. For families weighing their options, the Fort Myers experience highlights both the appeal of alternative schooling and the uncertainty that can accompany new charter launches.

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