These days, Hannah Merritt is a 25-year-old mother of three, a nurse starting a new job in a methadone clinic, and a woman dedicating herself to being a great mom and helping people throw off the shackles of addiction.

Clark County Acceleration Academies celebrated a record-breaking 40 graduates in an early fall ceremony, marking the end of a spirited journey for the young women and men and beginning the next chapter of their lives.

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...

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.

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.

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.

But for Sarasota Acceleration Academies, 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.

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.

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.