Teacher describes Deer Creek Academy as a flexible alternative that helps students graduate

A teacher at Deer Creek Academy described the district's alternative education program as a small, flexible setting that helps students who struggle in traditional high schools complete their diplomas.

The teacher said the Academy averages about "35 to 45 students a year" and operates on a much smaller scale than the district's regular high school, which the speaker said has more than 2,500 students. "It helps reduce students' anxiety about being at school," the teacher said, and allows staff to "individualize instruction" and build supportive relationships.

The teacher recounted a student's comment to staff: "Ms. Carpenter, this is my dream school," using it as an example of the program's positive impact. The speaker also said the Academy allowed students to work at a self-paced schedule and that some students plan to attend college as a result of the program.

The speaker described several program formats: fully virtual students, short-term in-person testing visits, semester-long virtual enrollment and students who have completed whole years virtually. As an attendance incentive, the teacher said, "Fridays are like optional. Like as long as you're caught up on your work, you can have Friday off."

Pushing back on the stigma that alternative schools are "where all the bad kids go," the teacher praised district administrators for designing Deer Creek to meet individual needs. "Every kid here gets something different," the teacher said, adding that faculty meet and "debate and we decide together what's best for them." The speaker urged those considering the program to visit: "If you're on the fence about coming to the academy, just come see it for yourself."