May 21, 2025 | Jeffrey Good
Not so long ago, Layla Marie Bradley dreaded going to school. The hectic hallways, crowded classrooms and lack of personal attention from teachers left her feeling lost.
“I was the one who’d be too scared to ask questions or say ‘Slow down, you’re going too fast,’ ” says Layla. “I was a school hater.”
All that changed when she enrolled at Lee County Acceleration Academies (LCAA). There, she found a calm, studious atmosphere, the ability to take one course at a time and — most importantly — individualized help whenever she needed.
“I need someone sitting with me going through assignments because I get lost really easily,” says Layla. “I learn differently than other students and the teachers at my old school didn’t get that.”
She found just the opposite at LCAA. She credits, in particular, ESE coach Heather Petersen.
“She was the reason why I came back and kept working at it,” says Layla. “She’d skip lunch to help me. She’d even stay after school to help me.”
Rather than crowded hallways and rows of desks, Layla found comfortable, cafe style seating and a relaxed but studious vibe. She didn’t have to raise her hand to leave the classroom to grab a snack or use the bathroom. And as she succeeded in course after course, she regained confidence in herself as a learner.
“I used to tell myself, ‘Oh, you’re not as smart as the other kids,’ ” she says. “I learned that I can do as well as anyone else. I just needed the extra push.”
With such support and her own determination, Layla celebrated her graduation and is heading to college. Her advice for other students frustrated in high school? “If you don’t fit in in regular high school, make the switch to LCAA.”