--- title: Blog - Acceleration Academies | Jeffrey Good (25) description: Stories and insights from Acceleration Acedmies (25) --- [![acceleration academies logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo.png) ![acceleration academies logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo-footer.png)](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/) - The Program « Back - [High School Completion](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/high-school-completion/) - [Our Flexible Approach](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/our-flexible-approach/) - [Personalized Teaching](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/personalized-teaching/) - [Career Coaching](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/career-coaching/) - [Meet Our Graduates](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/ourgraduates/) - [Social Support & Aid](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/social-support-aid/) - 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[Bethel](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/washington/bethel/) - About Us « Back - [Our Accreditation](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-accreditation/) - [Our Team](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-team/) - [News](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/news/) - [Blog](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/blog/) - [Pathways Magazine](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/pathways-magazine?hsLang=en) - [Become a Partner](https://altedpathways.org/) - [Careers](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/about-us/careers/) - [Contact Us](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/contact-us/) - [Events](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/events/) - [Login](https://studentinnovate.educationincites.com/#/client/myincite) - Search [Get Info](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/request-info?hsLang=en) [Enroll](http://accelerationacademies.org/enroll) Menu  Search Close Search Form Close Menu Our Blog ## The Stories & Insights That Matter Filter by category Student Stories Florida Alternative Education Meet Our Graduates Graduations South Carolina Charter Schools Miami-Dade Sarasota Going Back to High School Staff Perspectives 10 Years of Acceleration Academies Ector Personalized Learning Texas Georgia Academies News & Events Academies in Action Career and Technical Ed Gwinnett County (GA) St. Lucie Bethel (WA) Location Clark County (NV) GED vs Diploma High School Diploma CTE Data in Education Dropout Recovery Nevada value of a high school diploma Washington Alumni Broward County (FL) Duval County Escambia County Marion County Myrtle Beach/Conway (SC) Student Mental Health Lee County Online High School Santa Rosa County (FL) School Choice Technology California Cincinnati (Oh) DeKalb County (GA) Enrollment Help Hillsborough County (FL) Insider Los Angeles My Acceleration Academies Story National School Choice Week Ohio Partnerships Wichita, KS [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/MDAAgrad5.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-2-26-from-our-academy-leaders-one-powerful-data-point-we-use-to-improve-student-engagement-is-tgk8s-3tll6-7f8lb-36td3-4s748-7xykf-8d74n) ## [Academies in Action: Why It’s Different Here](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-2-26-from-our-academy-leaders-one-powerful-data-point-we-use-to-improve-student-engagement-is-tgk8s-3tll6-7f8lb-36td3-4s748-7xykf-8d74n) September 23, 2021 | Jeffrey Good Each month, we take a moment to learn from the educational leaders who are bringing the Acceleration Academies mission to life, day in and day out. This month, we asked our Academy Directors to respond to this prompt: When a prospective graduation candidate asks you how Acceleration Academies are... [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LAAYasminLacerdaworking.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-9-16-yasmin-lacerda-if-i-want-to-talk-to-a-teacher-i-dont-have-to-stand-in-a-long-line-of-other-students) ## [Yasmin Lacerda: “If I Want to Talk to a Teacher, I Don’t Have to Stand in a Long Line’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-9-16-yasmin-lacerda-if-i-want-to-talk-to-a-teacher-i-dont-have-to-stand-in-a-long-line-of-other-students) September 22, 2021 | Jeffrey Good Yasmin Lacerda lost her father, Army Ranger Staff Sgt. Pedro Lacerda, when she was just 6. But there’s not a day when she doesn’t carry him, and his example, in her heart. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/HeidiGarcia-Martinez.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-9-2-heidi-garcia-martinez-im-going-to-be-a-graduate) ## [Heidi Garcia-Martinez: ‘I’m Going to Be a Graduate!’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-9-2-heidi-garcia-martinez-im-going-to-be-a-graduate) September 22, 2021 | Jeffrey Good There’s rarely a day at Bethel Acceleration Academies when Heidi Garcia-Martinez doesn’t settle into a chair, open her computer and focus in on the coursework she needs to earn her high school diploma. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SLAAAngelaGilmore.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-7-20-even-if-their-heart-is-broken-i-always-tell-them-never-give-up) ## [‘Even if Their Heart is Broken, I Always Tell Them, Never Give Up’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-7-20-even-if-their-heart-is-broken-i-always-tell-them-never-give-up) September 22, 2021 | Jeffrey Good Working with young learners, Angela Gilmore hears stories of all manner of hardship: Exhausting work schedules, sleepless nights as a teen parent, trouble with the law, trouble with boyfriends, trouble putting food on the table. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SAAAshtonKolek.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-7-19-ashton-kolek-if-you-need-help-you-can-get-help) Student Stories ## [Ashton Kolek: ‘If You Need help, You Can Get Help’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-7-19-ashton-kolek-if-you-need-help-you-can-get-help) September 21, 2021 | Jeffrey Good Ashton Kolek would have a hard time focusing on his high school studies while also working 30-35 hours a week at a job that he finds not only financially helpful but also personally rewarding. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LAA2BLanden2BJoshua.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-9-16-landen-joshua-i-want-to-shock-them) ## [Landen Joshua: ‘I Want to Shock Them’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-9-16-landen-joshua-i-want-to-shock-them) September 16, 2021 | Jeffrey Good Landen Joshua came to Lowcountry Acceleration Academy with a burning desire to accelerate his high school education, graduate early and move on to building his career in trade school. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SAAGradMarkelJackson.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-5-4-its-a-real-positive-energy-here-that-helped-me-up) Student Stories ## [‘It’s a Real Positive Energy Here that Helped Me Up’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-5-4-its-a-real-positive-energy-here-that-helped-me-up) September 13, 2021 | Jeffrey Good Markel Jackson stopped by Sarasota Acceleration Academies one day to eat pizza with his former classmates and teachers, to fill them in on his job and plans for the future — and to laugh, laugh and laugh some more. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Francesca2CIndiraandMarcOrbegozo.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-9-1-francesca-c-mardis-where-youre-from-isnt-nearly-as-important-as-where-youre-goingnbsp) ## [Francesca C. Mardis: ‘Where You’re From Isn’t Nearly as Important as Where You’re Going’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-9-1-francesca-c-mardis-where-youre-from-isnt-nearly-as-important-as-where-youre-goingnbsp) September 1, 2021 | Jeffrey Good When you hear the term “registrar,” what image comes to mind? Perhaps someone who helps students fill out forms, organizes transcripts and completes enrollments, and makes the behind-the-scenes machinery of a school operate without a hitch. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LAATwinsMariahandMakyia2.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-8-26-lowcountry-academy-twins-this-is-a-10-out-of-10-experience) Charter Schools ## [Lowcountry Academy Twins: ‘We Value Our Education Even More Because We Know What It’s Like Not to Have One’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/2021-8-26-lowcountry-academy-twins-this-is-a-10-out-of-10-experience) August 30, 2021 | Jeffrey Good Good things come in pairs, says the Chinese proverb. That’s certainly the case at the newly opened Lowcountry Acceleration Academy in Charleston. 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