We recently moved into our new facility and I wanted to write a blog post reflecting on our school and what makes it so special. This is a much bigger facility, we have literally twice as much space. So, we have room to grow (but not too much, we like being a small school.) Because we have room to grow, I also wanted to reflect on our student population, why students would choose our school, and what it takes to be successful here.
I love this place. I am very lucky to work here for many reasons:
On a personal level, the flexibility of this job is amazing. I am able to set my own schedule which allows me to be the kind of mom I want to be. I have the freedom to manage the logistics of my kids’ varying school schedules, doctor and dentist appointments, and parent-teacher conferences. I don’t have to miss special events in their lives and I can go to them if they are sick or injured. That is a luxury most teachers do not enjoy. Also, because most of my days are devoted to one on one meetings with students, I don’t have to wait three or four hours for a bathroom break like a “normal” teacher.... so that's nice.
On a professional level, this job is insanely fulfilling. First of all, I am surrounded by like-minded teachers. Every facilitator at this school really cares about their students. We all have about 30 students that we facilitate for and we take the task to heart. We spend a lot of time getting to know our students. We learn their strengths, weaknesses, values, goals, hobbies… we devote a lot of energy to understanding what makes them tick so that we can meet their individual needs. We are really dedicated to Personalizing their education. We listen to them. We help them find balance. We challenge them without overwhelming them. We spend a substantial amount of time figuring out what they need to be successful. Sometimes that means giving them the tools they need and getting out of their way. Sometimes it means more direct involvement. I meet with some of my students every 20 days, others I see every week. We do what it takes and we don’t give up. I have seen my students do some pretty amazing things with the tools they are given here.
Why is this place so special?
The most important thing that makes this school so special is the freedom of choice it allows for our students and families. When I get a new student they are often overwhelmed with the possibilities. They are not used to having the freedom to choose how they are going to do school. They are used to being put into a box, used to “thinking inside the classroom.” They don't really get it at first; and that's ok, it took me a while too. When I first ask them how they want to learn, often they don’t know. In a first meeting, I spend about 2 hours with the student and their parent(s). We work together to come up with a Personalized Education Plan. Prior to that first meeting, the family has already met with our director and developed a preliminary plan. We review that plan, look at their transcript, talk about future goals, and do our best to answer the “how do you want to learn?” question. They can choose between on-campus classes at our school, concurrent classes at the Community College or a local high school, home school courses, online courses, vendor services, community programs, or a blend of options. Sometimes I get a student that REALLY wants autonomy over their learning. I have actually sat down and done curriculum mapping with the student and parent. We are still beholden to educational law and state testing. There is a common myth out there that charter schools have no accountability, that's just plain wrong. Our teachers are highly qualified and our students are held to the same standards as students in "traditional" schools. We still meet the state standards, but we decided how. We allow for personalization based on student needs. Now, here’s the really cool part: if the plan is not working, we change it.
Why would a student choose SCA?
...because they can. Students come to our school for many different reasons. Some come here simply because they want the freedom to choose how they are going to learn. Some come here because they want a safer environment. We don’t have bullies here. We don’t have discipline problems. We don’t allow our students to disrupt the learning of other students or make them feel unsafe. This is a school of choice; if a student is a problem and they are unwilling to change, they are sent back to their school a residency. Other students come to our school because they want to accelerate, they want to graduate early or get a good deal of college under their belts while in high school. It’s even possible to earn an Associate’s Degree or have enough college courses completed to enter a four-year university as a junior while in this school without paying for the college units… that’s an incredible opportunity. Some students come here because they are behind in credits and they need the flexibility to make them up and graduate on time. Some students come here because they need to homeschool, but they want the support of highly qualified teachers. Sometimes the parents want to control the learning environment for religious reasons. Maybe the student can't attend classes regularly because they are traveling musical performers or highly competitive athletes. Others come to our school because they are facing health issues that prevent them from being at school for eight hours a day.
What does it take to be successful at SCA, or in Personalized Learning in general?
This school is a truly amazing place to learn, but it’s not for everyone. Some students need four walls and desks, six teachers and six bells telling them what to do and when to do it. Others thrive at our school. They do well with the flexibility and autonomy. They like being able to set their own schedules and they excel in this environment. Others are overwhelmed with the flexibility and freedom. There are really two key elements to student success at our school. Parent involvement and intrinsic motivation in the student. If a student has both, they can really shine. It can be done with only one of these elements, but it is impossible if both are absent.
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