My Fox Memphis -

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - While Memphis and Shelby County School leaders bicker about charters and special school district status one Mid-South educator is helping young minds to grow.

Doctor Kia Tate is the principal of the Star Academy Charter School. It's not even ten years old but Dr. Tate's school has received praised from the state house to the White House.

"I'm an educator at heart. I have always wanted to be a teacher," said Dr. Tate.

Doctor Kia Tate is in her element, doing what she loves best.

"Charter schools were new to the state of Tennessee. although I had opened a school before, I had never opened one from the ground up in this manner," said Dr. Tate.

Dr. Tate wanted the opportunity to educate and cultivate young minds, without the bureaucracy of public education. It's worked. In 2007, Star Academy was voted the number one charter school in the state, just three years after it opened.

"It proved that urban kids really can learn and do exceptionally well. we were recognized because our kids did well exceptionally," said Dr. Tate.

"I have been here since I was in kindergarten and I just had a bunch of fun," said Kayla Brown, a Star Academy student.

Brown is president of the student council. She is one of the 240 students at this title one school which provides free breakfast and lunch. Most of the families here are low income.

"Here they tell you, you can follow your dreams and they will come true, if you believe that it will," said Brown.

Dreams, goals and college are important educational tools at star. Every year students go on a college road trip.

"We visited Morehouse, Spellman, Clark and Mehary Medical College as well," said Dr. Tate. "Exceptions are high for the kids, expectation are high for the parents and for the teachers and even me, and expectations are very high. What are the expectations of yourself?

"All of the decisions that I make are strictly based on the best interest of the student."