Originally published to the The News Journal on June 29th, 2022
People always ask me why I chose online school for my daughter. After nearly five years at the K12 Private academy, my daughter Angelica has learned to thrive, and I wanted to share what I believe are three reasons why.
1. Success is celebrated
Angelica is an artist. She was published in the 2022 International Human Rights Arts Festival after submitting a piece about her role model, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and reflecting Human Rights and Social Justice.
She is also an aspiring author, inspired by women like J.K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter, and wants to further develop her talent as an African American artist.
These two parts of her are celebrated just as much as her daily education, and combined, are leading her on a path to attend Harvard University. I wanted to encourage these parts of her and her online school made it easy.
2. Freedom to explore passions
Angelica’s school, K12 Private Academy, gives her the flexibility to learn inside and outside of school. With the ability to travel even during school days, she can learn real-world skills and apply coursework to her other activities.
My daughter is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and can connect with her peers through events and the extracurricular activities offered by the school and NJHS.
3. A high quality education is prioritized
In my family, education is valued above nearly all else, and after much research, I chose online school because it offers a rigorous curriculum and supportive teachers, allowing Angelica to learn at her highest potential.
She even gets to take unique classes such as Chinese, not something we often find at our local brick-and-mortar school. The opportunity keeps her focused and excited about learning.
With a creative and engaged daughter, online school is the best option for us, and I am thankful for the opportunities it has provided.
Dr. Wanda Fernandopulle is the Learning Coach of Angelica C. Gary, a rising 7th grader at K12 Private Academy, an online school powered by Stride.
