Sawnsurae Lowe was elected to a two-year term on the SC Learns Board. A parent of students at Cyber Academy of South Carolina, Sawnsurae looks forward to her role on the board.

‘’I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with fellow board members to enhance educational standards and drive student achievements, ensuring the institution's mission and goals are met effectively.’’

As a Board of Directors member, Sawnsurae brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of fostering academic excellence. With her background in education, she possesses valuable skills in strategic planning, policy development, and organizational leadership. 

Sawnsurae is a Bilingual Instructional Facilitator & Educator with over 13 years of dedicated teaching experience. A seasoned educator proficient in creating and delivering engaging lesson plans across a diverse range of subjects. Her expertise is further bolstered with Certifications in TEFL/TESOL, Computer/Course Design, and a proven leader in Standardized Test Preparation. 

Currently employed by MasteryPrep, Sawnsurae assists students in achieving college-ready scores on standardized tests, including; ACT, NC MATH, LEAP, TSIA 2, SAT, etc. Providing individualized support and essential test-taking skills to students from diverse backgrounds and learning needs. 

Sawnsurae is involved in spearheading the facilitation of product development to educators. Her engaging the educators in the product development process has lead to the creation of more effective educational tools and resources. She has successfully supported numerous students in securing Florida's Bright Futures Scholarships, collectively providing upwards of $3,000,000 in scholarship funding. Resulting in her achievement has of the Award of Excellence in Programming from the Carolina Youth Coalition. 

Sawnsurae's passion for working with students and empowering them to achieve their goals is truly admirable. By traveling all over the country to deliver lectures and assistance in high schools, universities, and other educational institutions, She is making a significant impact on the lives of her community and beyond.

CEO David Crook wrote an opinion letter recapping a trip district leaders took to London to learn about school choice and increasing student achievement from their English counterparts. Read the opinion letter here. 

March is National Reading Month! This month is a time to encourage readers of all ages to share what they love about reading. Reading has known benefits such as increased cognitive function, memory, and vocabulary.

Students! K12 invites you to share your reading adventures this month. You can share your blanket fort photos and videos here and share your reviews on your favorite female authors here.

Parents! Wondering how you can incorporate more reading into your students' lives? Check out these literacy tips from Michigan State University: Tips for Reading with Children

On January 16, 2024, HVA hosted an event in Columbia, SC to share stories from our students as well as to celebrate the first graduates of HVA. Click the video to watch coverage of this event from WIS10!

Congratulations to Nicki Batson on her new role as Executive Director of Heron Virtual Academy. ✨

Nicki Batson is proud to be serving students, families, and educators around the state of South Carolina as the Executive Director of Heron Virtual Academy. Nicki has been an educator since 2005 and has served in various educational roles in both traditional brick-and-mortar schools and the virtual learning environment. Nicki has served as a classroom teacher, teacher mentor, lead teacher, and high school principal. She has dedicated her career to ensuring students have access to rigorous and enriching educational opportunities while working to create a supportive and encouraging learning environment for students. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Nicki has coached multiple female sports teams and sponsored academic and service student clubs, fostering teamwork and leadership skills in her community.

Prior to joining the Heron Academy team, Nicki was a part of the Cyber Academy High School team and is looking forward to continuing the mission of providing a learning atmosphere where students feel supported and motivated to excel. Her goal is for Heron Academy to be a program where each student has the personalized attention needed to identify and pursue their goals, ensuring each learner receives the necessary support to reach their full potential.