October 31, 2024 | Jeffrey Good
While some high school students worry about getting their homework done in time to meet their friends at the mall, Que’vieon Preyer had a list of responsibilities that would burden people twice his age.
As a teenager, Que’vieon was holding down jobs on a hotel front desk and at an after-school program. He was struggling to pass the standardized test required of Florida high school graduates. Most importantly, the 18-year-old needed to make time for his mother.
“My mom had a stroke, so I needed to take care of her,” says then young man. “I needed a flexible schedule for me to be able to do the things I needed to do outside of school and still get a proper education.”
The traditional 8-to-3 school day didn’t work; nor did an online program where one-on-one support from teachers was hard to come by. In his junior year, Que’vieon decided to try a program designed for learners who need a more personalized approach — Escambia County Acceleration Academies (ECAA).
From the moment he walked through the door at the Pensacola, Florida, academy, Que’vieon could tell it was a different kind of school.
He loved the cafe-style seating, the ability to set his own schedule and, most of all, the encouragement he received from the team of dedicated educators, coaches and advocates.
How our flexible approach makes us different >>>
“It was much different with the open layout and the teachers on the floor working one-on-one,” he says. “They were all extremely helpful.”
He credited graduation candidate advocate Rondi Kirby with providing regular check-ins and steady support. “She always made sure I was okay.”
Career coach Yalonda Tibbs helped him remember why he was working so hard to earn his diploma and move on to Pensacola State College to study hotel management. “I just love the way she would make sure I was inspired, motivated and on my career path.”
And as he undertook the hard work of preparing for the state reading test that had tripped him up before, ESE coach Amy Weaver patiently worked with him to break down the elements and, one by one, master them.
“I was stressing really badly about the test; it was taking everything out of me,” says Que’vieon. “She’s been there since I started. She’s been really helpful with my reading.”
With such support and his own grit, Que’vieon completed his coursework, passed the state test and celebrated his graduation. He’s grateful for the opportunity he found at ECAA, and says the experience showed him an important truth about himself.
“I keep going no matter what gets thrown at me.”