As the guidance counselor began reading the information gathered from my son's teachers, my heart sank. "Talks about inappropriate subjects of a sexual nature, finds a child's weakness and hammers away at the child about this weakness until the child retaliates, out of seat often, blurts out answers...." As she continued I felt like yelling don't you see, don't you see that he needs your help, he needs your boundaries, a secure base, and he needs your love. How can any teacher give my son what he needs? Where is the best place for a post institutionalized child?

The meeting went on as the guidance counselor and the special-ed teacher talked about behavior modification techniques. Interjected throughout the conversation were little tidbits that made my heart scream, "They don't get it." It was then I realized that perhaps, they never would. How could I really expect them to? Do I really want my son - who is now almost 12 - to be the experiment that they practice getting it right with?

I appreciate what these good, intelligent, kind people were trying to do - learning to help the post institutionalized child succeed in school. I will be forever grateful to them and to all of the teachers across the country who try to learn how to help our kids.

I will continue to give them information and will put together info for parents to help them with the schools. I will do all of this because the kids deserve teachers who can help them, teachers deserve the best tools to help them, and parents need to be empowered with the information to help their child through the school years.

However, I have another option and I have the opportunity to make it work as I stay home and work in the evenings and weekends. It is called Connections Academy. "The mission of Connections Academy is to help each student maximize his or her potential and meet the highest performance standards through a uniquely individualized learning program that combines the best in virtual education with very real connections among students, family, teachers, and the community. Connections Academy is a high-quality, high-tech, high-touch virtual "school without walls" that brings out the best in every student through Personalized Performance Learning.

Connections Academy ™ (CA) is a private operator of K-8 and soon 9-12 virtual public schools. Parents or other "Learning Coaches" deliver instruction to students using daily lesson plans and Personalized Learning Plan™ for each student whose progress is tracked through a Learning Management System that includes a computer and Internet connection. Connections Academy schools operate under management contracts from charter schools or school districts. Connections Academy, Inc. is a division of Educate, Inc., the newly formed company focused exclusively on the K-12 education market. Educate, Inc. recently took ownership, via a management led buy-out, of the Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. K-12 businesses."

[Connections]

Here is a list of states that currently or that will soon have a charter:

· Colorado (Now Open)
· Wisconsin (Now Open)
· Arizona (Now Open)
· Florida (Now Open)
· Ohio (Now Open)
· Pennsylvania (Now Open)
· Georgia (legislative initiative)
· Texas (legislative initiative)
· California (charter application pending)
· Minnesota (legislative initiative)

[Connections]

Visit the Connections Academy website for more information: http://www.connectionsacademy.com.

Feel free to email me if you have an interest in Connections. Like I said, I will not abandon the teachers out there. I saw a real need for educating the educator and fortunately, many teachers who really wanted to learn how to help these kids. My heart is just leading me another way. I will be sure to let you know when my information packet will be available - Educating the Educators.

God bless.

Nancy Geoghegan

© 2003