Dear Members of the Board,

Please note that modifications have been made to this petition as additional information and context surrounding the situation have come to light.

We are writing as a collective group of Laurens Academy alumni, spanning multiple graduating classes, along with current students, parents, and members of the extended LA community, to express our deep concern regarding the recent termination of Coach Travis Plowden, a teacher and coach who has dedicated more than 15 years to the school community.

For many of us, across different years and experiences, Coach Plowden was far more than a history teacher, golf coach, basketball coach, football coach, or softball coach. He was a mentor who helped shape us in the classroom, on the court, and in life long after we left Laurens Academy. His influence extended well beyond academics and athletics. He instilled discipline, accountability, resilience, and character in generations of students.

Laurens Academy’s mission statement states that it seeks to provide a safe and secure environment that enhances each student’s opportunity to develop to his or her highest potential academically, emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. In our experience, Coach Plowden embodied that mission daily. He created an environment that challenged us, supported us, and ultimately helped shape us into better individuals.

Additionally, the school’s core values, “Prayer, Community Service, Integrity, Discipline, Achievement, Patriotism, Lifelong Learning, Sportsmanship, Pursuit of Excellence, Work Ethic, Respect, Honesty, Family, Appreciation, and Compassion,” were not simply words to him. They were principles he demonstrated consistently and instilled in his students day in and day out. Many of us still carry those lessons with us today.

His passion was evident in both his teaching and coaching style. While his delivery could at times be intense or theatrical, it was always rooted in a genuine desire to see his students and players succeed. He held us to a high standard, and in doing so, helped prepare us for life beyond school. Just as importantly, he demonstrated the ability to reflect, adjust, and make things right when needed, never crossing a line or coming close to doing so.

Given his longstanding commitment and the profound impact, he has had on so many of us, the decision to terminate him, reportedly over comments that appear to have been taken out of context, feels deeply disproportionate. It stands in stark contrast to the character, professionalism, and care that so many of us experienced firsthand over the course of many years.

This decision has been deeply unsettling for many alumni and has prompted serious reflection about the direction and values of the institution we once proudly called home. Laurens Academy played a significant role in shaping who we are today, and it is because of that connection that we feel a responsibility to speak up. Many of us who still live in the area now find ourselves asking a difficult question: Do we want to send our children to an institution that handles situations like this? In a world that needs schools like Laurens Academy more than ever, it is heartbreaking to even have to ask that question.

We respectfully ask the Board to challenge the administration’s decision, consider the broader context surrounding this matter, and reflect on the lasting impact this action may have on the school community, its alumni, and its future.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and thoughtful reflection on this matter.