Originally published to The Roanoke Times on March 26, 2022.
When it came to enrolling our son in kindergarten in fall 2021, one of the biggest determinants was the pandemic. Seeing how the shutdowns had negatively impacted education for so many, we wanted something different for Alexander. We never expected to find it so close to home.
When my wife started working at Virginia Virtual Academy, where she is now the elementary school principal, I would never have guessed that two short years later, we would both be employed at the school with our youngest starting kindergarten online.
At VAVA, Alexander has had the opportunity to be academically challenged more than I think he would have in a brick-and-mortar school. He is taking math at a first-grade level — as a kindergartner — and is in advanced reading. As his learning coach, it has been so rewarding to see him learn reading and phonics. With the support of his teachers, being a part of my son’s education in this way has become something I enjoy, even as my wife and I manage working full-time at home.
We are so thankful for the opportunity to teach and learn alongside our son. It works great for our family, and we are so proud of Alexander for coming so far in a short amount of time.
Dustin Owens,
Christiansburg
To learn more about Virginia Virtual Academy, visit https://vava.k12.com/
