Brother and Sister Thrive at Escambia Academy

What a difference the right school can make. 

At her former high school, Jaelin Nguyen found the social pressures and lack of personalized attention from teachers too much to bear. 

“Traditional school was not for me,” she says. “I didn’t want to go to school. I felt a lot of pressure to make everything perfect.” 

Transferring to Escambia County Acceleration Academies (ECAA) in Pensacola, FL, Jaelin found a dramatically different experience. The academy was uncrowded and calm. The teachers and counselors stood ready to help whenever she needed. 

With such support and her own hard work, she was able to graduate high school at age 16. “I just got to work at my own pace,” Jaelin said. She was able to finish some of her classes in just one day each. “I decided for myself that I wanted to graduate early.” 

Seeing the success of Jaelin, her older brother Chase joined her at the ECAA. He, too, suffers from social anxiety. And he, too, began to thrive in the relaxed-but-studious environment — so much so that he was able to graduate with his sister this past December. 

“My sister had a good experience there so I decided to try it,” says Chase. “You see all these bright walls, all the sunlight coming in the windows. It helps to brighten my mood.” 

Prior to transferring to ECAA, Chase had been in a dual enrollment program, taking college-level courses at George Stone Technical College and pursuing his high school diploma at a public school where fights were a frequent occurrence. 

“I didn’t want to see all that violence,” he says. 

At ECAA, he found a learning environment where respect is woven into the academy culture and there’s no room for physical or verbal violence. He began attending ECAA late in the day, after many classmates had left, and enjoyed the personalized support he received from teachers — known as academic content coaches at the academy — and advocates. 

At his old school, “they didn’t really make time for single students,” says Chase. At ECAA, by contrast, educators made themselves available whenever he needed help. Chase and Jaelin add that the support extended beyond academic needs; the ECAA team also made them feel valued as human beings. 

They both credited registrar Walter Smith, among others, with greeting them and other students every time they walked in, and spreading his positive energy throughout the day. 

“If I ever had a bad day, he would reach out,” says Jaelin. “He makes the school more comfortable.” 

Click here for images from the recent graduation by photographer and literacy coach Laura Muehl.