Around CPA...

As students, we regularly reflect on our goals and academic journey. Eventually, we all reach our destinations, but take different paths and stops along the way. For those who encounter barriers or roadblocks, Confluence Preparatory Academy High School (CPA) provides help and opportunities to succeed. The Confluence Learning Center (CLC), provides a free focused structured learning environment for students with deficient credit to meet their graduation requirements. The CLC houses three supporting programs: Students Taking Academic Responsibility (STAR), Students Owning Academic Responsibility (SOAR), and the Missouri Option Program (MOP). These three programs are available to middle school and high school students district-wide. The STAR program, which is led by Mrs. Andria Porch, focuses on academic engagement and ownership so students don’t continue to fall behind and are able to build foundational knowledge. One of the goals of the program is to change the mindset of students so they do not go through high school failing courses. The SOAR program, led by Mr. David Dickerson, is designed for 10th-12th graders to assist them in passing current classes throughout the academic year and recoup credit lost from previous years. The Missouri Option Program, also led by Mrs. Andria Porch, was created for students to meet graduation requirements and garner a General Educational Diploma (GED). These programs give students a second chance to wipe their slate clean and prepare for postsecondary opportunities. The programs in the CLC are online independent study courses that allow students to work at their own pace while having fun learning, and achieving academic success.

Students encounter a range of obstacles throughout their academic journey. Many of the obstacles are out of their control and occur outside of school. The old African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” resonates among CPA faculty as they have to serve as a guardian angel for students, both educating and serving as a figure for students to admire. Some students experience financial hardships and have to work long shifts (while going to school) to contribute to their household’s income, some lack motivation, and others face harsh judgment from naysayers that have given up on them.

Mr. Dickerson, the CLC Lead Program Facilitator, oversees the district’s Acellus online learning programs and ensures learning runs efficiently and is successful for every child. Dickerson has been teaching at CPA for 6 years and leads all credit recovery efforts. Additionally, he has been successful at motivating students, building and bridging relationships between the student, parent, and the academic team, and getting students to garner more credit to achieve their academic goals and graduate with their cohort. He is a former teacher of the year for the 2019-2020 academic school year and takes pride in students reaching their academic potential and graduating high school. Mr.Dickerson is very vested in the program and loves seeing students succeed.

Acellus, the trailblazing software behind the CLC, has been innovative for students since its introduction to the district three years ago. Created by Roger Billings, Acellus Academy founder, the program has made learning adaptable to various student learning styles. The system teaches auditorily, visually, and kinesthetically. The learning programs cater to students in need of credit and students who are able to work at a faster pace. Therefore, it transforms school in favor of the student because it meets them where they are and supports their academic efforts, while possibly working a job to assist in supporting their family. The structural difference between CPA and the CLC is that the students do not attend seven classes, but one daily three-hour focussed learning session with fewer social distractions.

Roger Billings, the multifaceted genius who created the Acellus learning system, has accomplished great things with his inventions. During his years in high school, he made the first hydrogen-fueled car in 1966, which is relevant because of how the earth is efficient. Also, his contributions to technology helped lay the foundation for creating the personal computer and the internet. Billings’ creation of Acellus has raised the bar for online learning infrastructure and contributed to raising graduation rates for schools like CPA. The students and staff in the CLC are forever grateful for Billings and his creation.

Meagan Williams, a GCAA student, decided she wanted to take a different path to success in October. Because of Covid-19, she did not want to gamble with her health being around people. In addition, she was also behind in credits. Because of these circumstances, she decided that SOAR would be the right option to assist her in meeting her academic goals and making her mom proud. Latrice Underwood, Meagan’s mother, says that they thought she would operate better in the program because she was a different type of learner. After engaging in the program and with the guidance of Mr. Dickerson, Meagan is expected to graduate on time or even earlier, depending on her continued efforts. Her success in the program has led her older sibling, Leah (who has just had a child), to finish school in the same program. Leah wanted to do this to prove to her son that she’s not a quitter and he has the same chance to succeed. Ms. Underwood says that she just wants all of her children to walk across the stage and be productive citizens and contributing members of society.

Jordan Thomas, a CPA 12th grader, is in his second year in the SOAR program and is finding academic success. While being in the program, Jordan has progressed exceptionally over the past couple of years, but not enough to leave the program. Jordan is vigorously working to graduate with the help of Mr. Dickerson. Something that in the long will elevate Jordan even more. Jordan says Mr. Dickerson is the one person who encouraged him to return to school and to focus and to take ownership of his part in the educational process. Jordan has gone from being told by teachers that he could possibly not graduate to now being more than ready to receive his high school diploma and be a leader for his siblings. This shows the strides students have achieved learning in the CLC, using the Acellus system, and being mentored by Mr. Dickerson.

School has taught Jordan real-life lessons that can be applied anywhere. He thinks of school as a “life-builder” and believes some teachers can be “encouraging and discouraging.” Which shows how education can give glimpses of what could be faced in adulthood. Jordan believes without graduating high school, opportunities are possible, but he looks forward to graduating to prove to the people who questioned or doubted his capabilities and choices made. Once attaining his diploma, he hopes to attend college and is deciding between majors. He aspires to be an entrepreneur or just self-employed.

The CLC continues to prosper with future additions to its program. Families throughout the metropolitan area are excited about the educational opportunities available to students that give them a second, third, or fourth chance at being successful in school and getting a foundation that sets them up for success. The CLC is always looking to get the kids in need of a school family and looks to provide them with a focused environment where they can triumph through high school and have post-secondary options. I am grateful to the school district for having alternative academic non-traditional programs that allow my classmates to graduate with their cohorts, despite the barriers and hardship they encountered throughout their academic journey. No matter how different our path to success, our journey throughout high school continues to bind us like branches connected to a strong oak tree sustained by the growth that occurs when leaning and being faced with treacherous barriers along the way. As students, we ultimately mature into independent life-long learners that are vessels that can teach the next generation to make smart choices and take responsibility for their academic success.