Today, Jacob completed his last high school class-High school graduation! 12 years of school. (As of today, he has finished his last two classes in Marine Science to complete his high school career. And he aced them.)
WOW!
Jacob is my grandson. He has been here for the last 4 years to do online school. Jacob and I have a great relationship. In 2008, 28 days after his birth, Jacob came into my home. And we connected. We did everything together, and we went everywhere together. Over the years, he and I have become friends. With no dad active in his life, I have been that to him, as well. IYKYK
He is a great kid. Not just because he is my grandson, but because he really is. He is passionate about his family and friends. He is kind-hearted and loving, not only to people but to animals and pets. He is working on projects related to pets and mental health awareness, as well as our shared love of cars.
Changing Gears In the Middle of a School Year
Before we moved to Keene, I picked Jacob up nearly every day of his first five or six years of school, staying in touch with teachers and counselors, and helping him with things related to school.
The COVID pandemic showed up. (Kids are behind in reading and math, and they’re not catching up.) Schools were turned upside down. Remote learning became a thing. However, at Jacob’s school, many of the kids didn’t show up. Often, teachers didn’t show up. I understand that everyone was adjusting, but these were kids. 🙁 Frustrating for students, teachers, and of course, parents. But it wasn’t working well for many people.
Jacob was one of those casualties. The crowning blow for him was an administrator who thought it was funny to denigrate Jacob (not even knowing Jacob), and then apologized later, saying, “Hey, I was only kidding.” Add in how much it bothered him to see friends bullied. Following the administrator’s idiocy, Jacob told his mom and me, “I am not going back to school.” And he didn’t. He told us he didn’t care if the truant people showed up. 😊
He came to me and said, “You told me if I ever wanted to be homeschooled, you would do it for me.” Yep, I did. I talked to his mom, and with her agreement, Jacob and I began to seek a solution. We filed papers with the state, developed a curriculum, and began. He moved here to Keene. We changed a room, got him a computer, and he was ready for school!
Jacob had conducted additional research and found an online school that we could work with as well. VTVLC. How ironic was it that their offices were in the building where he was in high school?
We began. We adopted Khan Academy, incorporated some foundational elements like reading with book reports, and began to address the education gaps that had not been met.
Let me say something about this. I believe many people get into education for the right reasons. However, when the majority of the money is spent on administrative and building costs, we have a problem. In Vermont, only 31% of students were proficient in reading. Math proficiency is similar. When 30% or less of the money makes it to students, well, you don’t care about the students as much as you professed. Add in the lack of parental involvement. And let me be forward, it takes a lot to figure it all out. (BTW-my mom was an educator, as is one of my brothers. I work with educators. I value educators. And people asked me, “What about his social life?” He has had a great one! Without the drama.)
And so, Jacob began. Let me say that when Jacob and I began, I think he thought it would be comparable to his work in public schools. Yep. Nope. 😊
I had developed a reading program and some health-related content, and also incorporated a Physical Exercise program. (And we took advantage of a summer program of Bowling, called Kids Bowl Free. I bought him some bowling shoes and we bowled every day of the summer!)
If he thought online school was going to be like his public school experience, we both found that not to be the reality. It was way more complicated.
We planned the first semester of homeschooling and quickly found out that we were over our heads. We got through it, but recognized that he was going to need more involved teaching. I put a lot of my background into play. We added summer school, particularly for math, as there were things that had not even been taught to him. 🙁 As we entered Fall and 2022-23, he and I were figuring it out.
Over the next few years, Jacob developed a great relationship with his teachers. He developed a rhythm and style. He loved school, and he was learning. He attended summer school to enhance his education and ensure he had a solid understanding of his classes. His teachers took an interest in him. They worked closely with him and checked in. Both his mom and I knew what was going on every day.
Each day, we would go have coffee and discuss the classes, and what he might want to do after. He started school around 9, had lunch at about noon, and was usually done at 3-3:30.
He enjoyed his teachers, as well as his classes. He had options. For the first few years, he had no support or acknowledgement from the town and the school he had attended (They were asked. A requirement of the education system.), but then another school district came along and began to work with him. (His high school graduation diploma will bear their school’s name.)
And when friends asked about online school, due to social issues or educational challenges, I recommended VTVLC. One of my friends, whose child was being bullied, met me at a business expo and asked me what to do. His son graduated from a similar school with a 3.4 grade average and headed off to college this week.
When he turned 16, I began to ask him every month, “Are you in the game? Do you want to quit?” He always said he was in. He fell in love with history, loved English and Science, and worked his way through the math classes. (I did get him a tutor for geometry.)
He sacrificed many things to do this, but he also gained. He developed confidence. He developed skills. And when, at the beginning of the 2024 year, he was faced with two curveballs in terms of school requirements that exceeded state requirements, he graciously undertook them.
Classes included World History, American Government, African American History, Biology, Earth Science (H), Marine Science, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Spanish, Journalism and Writing, Music Appreciation, Life Skills, and a variety of English classes.
Over the years, because it was online, we were able to go to New York and Virginia, as well as establish days to “go do something.” Car shows, events, and lots, lots more. I have watched him develop programs for Mental Health Awareness and Support of Pets. He has been part of a church fellowship, helped prepare meals for the homeless, and has been invited to photograph car shows. He has become a “critical thinker” and developed reasoning skills.
With his high school graduation, he is taking a breath. It is well earned. And then we had conversations, as he would like to do something in the automotive world, so we discussed schools and job hunting.
He will be sharing his own experiences here over the next few weeks. Yesterday, he reached out to some of his teachers, guidance counselor, and administrators, who walked him through these years.
A couple of notes from some of the administrative folks.
Hi Lee,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am incredibly proud of Jacob and all that he has accomplished. His growth is a testament to his determination and resilience and to the powerful impact of a caring, committed learning community.
I’m honored that VTVLC could be part of Jacob’s journey. Every person on our team is here because we believe in the potential of students like Jacob. I will absolutely share your message with all of his teachers. They will be deeply touched to know their efforts made a lasting impact.
We can’t wait to read the articles you and Jacob are writing. His story is one of perseverance, strength, and hope, and we’re proud to have been a part of it.
Sincerely,
Jess
AND this one.
Thank you so much, Lee and Alyssa, for giving Jacob the opportunity to learn and grow through VTVLC and Green Mountain Union High School!!!
Jacob, you are truly one of VTVLC’s greatest success stories in online learning.
I’m incredibly proud of your dedication and perseverance throughout these past years.
It’s been an honor to be part of your educational journey — we’re so glad we could share in it with you!
Please keep in touch, and we look forward to reading the articles!
Sincerely,
Kim
For Jacob, this was the right choice, and he is grateful that it could happen
