Acceleration Academies Educators: ‘It All Starts Here’

The educators who work with young learners at Acceleration Academies across the nation come from a rainbow of backgrounds, life experiences and work histories. But they find themselves united by a single, powerful purpose: To open doors for students who may have thought a high school diploma was out of reach.

“I tell them wherever you came from, the staff here at Acceleration Academies are more than willing to go out of their way to help,” says Chris Turner, Director of the newly opened Wichita academy in Kansas. “When you feel like your best isn’t good enough, you can always reach out to us and we’ll find a way to help you get through.”

Many of our educators know first-hand the challenges their graduation candidates (GCs) face, having weathered poverty, discrimination and limited educational opportunity in their own lives. Growing up as the oldest child of a single mom trying to make ends meet in Pensacola, Florida, Escambia graduation candidate advocate Cordivido Grice used his own determination to lay the groundwork for success.

“The message I share with students is, small challenges are temporary for huge accomplishments,” he says. “If things won’t challenge you in life, they won’t change you.”

A sizeable number of Acceleration Academies students are immigrants and the children of immigrants, and so are their educators. St. Lucie English coach Jacques Voltaire came to the United States from Haiti, and he relishes the chance to work with young people who — regardless of birthplace — must work hard to build their American dream.

 “What drew me was the company’s mission. I said to my wife, ‘This is life-changing stuff,’ ” recalls the father of two. “You’re giving a sense of pride to those who’ve been told they can’t succeed. I just wanted to be a part of that, you know, and I haven’t looked back. With Acceleration, I get a chance to know these kids’ stories in a way I was never able to before. You just feel connected.”

Of course, academics are at the core of the Acceleration Academies mission, and many of the students who come our way find math a huge challenge. “When I came here, there were some GCs who didn’t even want to touch their math course,” says Sarasota math coach Khaliah Augustin: But through patient explanation and practice, she helps them overcome their fear and — sometimes — even find a love of math. “That’s inspiring to me. That’s what keeps me going.”

In addition to boosting their scholarly skills, Acceleration Academies educators work to bolster each learner’s sense of self worth, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation or economic background.

“With students, when you don’t celebrate who they originally are, they become broken,” says Dr. Jacinta Bryant, a descendent of slaves and Director of Lowcountry Acceleration Academy in North Charleston. She felt that brokenness as one of the only African American children in her school, and rebuilt her self-image only when a 6th grade teacher saw her potential and helped her shine. “Let’s start a new beginning,” she tells GCs. “Let’s be empowered by our pain. Out of that pain there has to be some purpose.”

Lowcountry Director Dr. Jacinta Bryant: “Let’s be empowered by our pain”

Many students come to Acceleration Academies after having dropped out of other schools, but academy team members reinforce the value of second chances — and the determination and grit required to make the best use of them.

“You make that commitment to do something, and you do it,” says Virginia Hunt, Director of Ector Acceleration Academies. “You don’t stop because it didn’t work out the first time.

The reward for all that hard work is a high school diploma and the brighter future it can create.

“For many of them, this is their first big win. They need it,” says Miami-Dade’s Francesca C. Mardis. If learners feel discouraged along the way, she and her fellow Acceleration Academies educators offer this message: “This is the key to your better life. Whatever you want to do in your future, it all starts here.”