Dr Adutwum recounts inspiring story on how he built three schools in US

Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe and an education advocate, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has shared the story of how his career in the United States evolved from teaching in the classroom to a builder of multiple schools through the charter school system.

In an interview with The Career Trail on Joy Learning TV, he explained that the pivotal moment in his journey occurred during his ninth year in the US, when he saw an advertisement inviting individuals to submit proposals to establish new schools.

“At that time, the American government was concerned about the underperformance of some public schools, particularly in urban areas. So, they called for individuals interested in setting up schools,” a report by adomonline.com on May 8, 2026, quoted him.

Charter schools, according to Dr Adutwum, operated independently under government licenses while receiving per-student funding.

“You submit a proposal, and if it is approved and you receive a charter. The government then funds the students who attend your school,” he explained.

He submitted his first grant application and was thrilled to find out it had been approved on the California Department of Education website.

“My grant was approved for about $500,000. I later received my first check for $50,000,” he revealed.

“I placed the check on the passenger seat of my car and kept looking at it; I had never seen a $50,000 check before,” he said.

He reportedly established his first charter school in an urban community, serving around 100 students.

The school’s strong academic structure and disciplined environment attracted more families.

According to the report, due to the growing demand, Adutwum raised approximately $20 million from Wall Street investors to build his first permanent campus.

This success led to the establishment of two more institutions, creating what he described as a strong educational network in the US.

His schools achieved remarkable academic results, with nearly 90 percent of students gaining admission to universities annually, including prestigious institutions like Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Stanford.

Dr Adutwum attributed these successful outcomes to a deliberately structured academic system.

“I made the school day longer. In junior high, students would leave school at 3:45 PM, allowing for extra time for English and Mathematics. By the end of the year, they would have completed about 1.5 Math classes and 1.5 English classes,” he noted.

He also mentioned that Saturdays were included in the schedule.

“Every other Saturday, students were in school. Additionally, we provided counseling and intervention services," he said.

“From being a teacher in challenging classrooms to building schools, raising funds, and impacting thousands of students; that was my journey in America,” he said.

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