Pathways Magazine - Winter 2022 Edition

MARION COUNTY ACCELERATION ACADEMIES
thing, it makes it much easier than six other
things.”
After earning her diploma, Mako hopes to go
on to apprenticeships and further studies that
will help her build on her strong drawing skills
to become a tattoo artist, graphic designer or
other creative professional.
Academy Director Wayne Livingston says
Mako has been a wonderful addition to the
MCAA community. “She’s just a very positive
spirit. She’s making great progress here.”
Mako returns the praise for Livingston and
his team. “I feel much better here than at any
other school.”
incorporates both digital and traditional media
Pad to create this image of her classmates.
“School always felt like a cage,” she
says. At MCAA, “it feels spacious. I
love it.”
Even more important, the educators
— who are called coaches — offer
guidance whenever she needs it. For
example, she said that ELA coach
Annette Maldonado-Garcia regularly
checks in to offer encouragement and
academic support.
“She cares about me,” says Mako. “My
old teachers, they didn’t care about
me like that.”
Mako also likes MCAA’s flexible
scheduling, which allows her to get a
good night’s sleep before coming in
mid-morning to start her school day.
Also helpful is the ability for graduation
candidates to take one course at a time,
demonstrating mastery before moving
on to the next. “If I can focus on one
After earning her diploma,
Mako plans to go on to
apprenticeships and
further studies that will
help her build on her
strong drawing skills to
become a tattoo artist,
graphic designer or other
creative professional.