Remember the guidance counselor in high school who would advise on which classes to take and how to apply to college? Due to an acute need to address the emotional needs of students, that role has evolved to become “school counselor,” to address the whole student, and their social and emotional needs, along with academic […]
Hailey was diagnosed with autism when she was six. Despite being placed in various special education programs, she fell behind in school, which made her frustrated and angry. She had limited social skills, was bullied, isolated and very unhappy. In high school, she was placed in a group with other autistic students, but recalls being […]
Autism Awareness Month is a chance to highlight the one in 59 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Students like John B., who suffered a severe illness as a toddler that left him silent and diagnosed with non-verbal autism. John’s kindergarten teacher introduced him to facilitated communication, so he could express himself using a talking […]
Graduating from high school and attending college was once only a dream to 19-year-old Dreama S. After overcoming multiple obstacles including surviving cancer, the trauma of losing a sister and experiencing temporary homelessness, she graduated with honors from FLEX High School in the fall of 2020 during a national pandemic. She recently started her first semester […]
Jamila Moore is now 21, but back when she was just 15, her English teacher inspired her to write a story, and to improve it with dialogue and write it as a chapter book. And it took a few years, but she now has a publisher and a fully illustrated fantasy novel, written for young […]
It’s no wonder that Chris often felt anger bubbling up – he was bullied throughout his youth and recalls being a loner for most of his childhood. He came to FLEX his first year of high school because our flexible schedule meant that he wouldn’t have to sit in a classroom every day, which triggered […]
Kids who love animals often dream of becoming a veterinarian someday. But like any career path, there is a lot of hard work that needs to happen – and for high schoolers, that can start with Career Technical Education (CTE) classes. So, we offer an array of CTE pathways that prepare students for high-wage, […]
Educators and parents of all backgrounds are worried about learning losses suffered by their students during the pandemic. It has become clear that teachers can’t effectively serve 120+ high school students a day doing remote learning by trying to replicate the classroom experience through Zoom. Dr. Caprice Young, our national superintendent, offers New Year’s resolutions […]
Frustrated at his traditional school, Cameron got into fights with other students. As he bounced from school to school, he discovered that his teachers quickly gave up on him. Then he found FLEX and was interested in learning because of the personalized model. “I like doing my work one-on-one. Just me and my work and […]
What is one of the most powerful tools to prevent teens from taking a troubled path, skipping school or dropping out? Experts agree – it’s mentoring. Oprah Winfrey credits her teacher/mentor for helping her overcome a troubled childhood and putting her on a path to success. January is National Mentoring Month, and a reminder of how […]