2022 Q2 Pathways Quarterly Magazine

ST. LUCIE ACCELERATION ACADEMIES
space with comfortable seating and a studious
into manageable pieces and then showing how
atmosphere, Ja’Kerien knew this was a different
what he was learning could help him manage his
kind of school. No crowded hallways, no rows of personal finances, do his taxes and work toward
desks, and no worries about getting help when he his goal of some day opening a business.
needed it.
“He was patient and he took his time and really
just helped out a lot. He understood me a lot,
“I like it better than a regular high school. Even
which I really appreciated — even though I had
though there were other kids there, they really
him for a short period of time, he was one of the
took their time with each individual kid,” he says best math teachers I ever had.”
of academy educators. “They made it an at-home
feeling.”
Having earned his diploma and re-established
himself as a learner,
Particularly helpful
was math coach
Carson Senger.
When Ja’Kerien
learned he had two
math classes to
complete in order to
graduate, he recalls,
“I said there’s no
way I’m going to
“I like it better than a regular
high school...they really took
their time with each individual
kid,” he says of academy
educators. “They made it an
at-home feeling.”
Ja’Kerien has reconnected
with college
football coaches
and is hoping to win
admission to Bethune-
Cookman University or
another school this fall.
With help from Senger
and other SLAA
coaches, Ja’Kerien says
finish two math classes and graduate on time. I’m he learned a valuable lesson.
horrible at math.”
“Bad times don’t last forever, they really don’t,”
His coach was undaunted. He worked patiently
he says. “I just let my faith be bigger than my
with Ja’Kerien, breaking complex math problems fear.”
Did you know...
Acceleration Academies
is a tuition-free, nationally
accredited program!
Pathways Magazine | Summer 2022 19