Acceleration Academies_Spring2023_Pathways Magazine

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ECTOR COUNTY ACCELERATION ACADEMIES At EAA, Sisters Find the Calm and Coaching They Need to Succeed Walk into Acceleration Academies of Ector County and you will find sisters Alliyah and Kaisa Navarette hard at work on the courses needed to earn their high school diplomas and move in the direction of their dreams. The sisters are close; Kaisa, 16, sometimes helps to interpret for Alliyah, 18, who has a hearing impairment and mostly uses sign language to express herself. But make no mistake — Alliyah is the Big Sister on Campus. “It’s easier for me to do one course at a time so I can focus on it.” - Alliyah “Oh yeah,” says Alliyah, raising an eyebrow and flashing a wry grin at her sister. Good-humored sibling banter aside, the sisters have something important in common. Traditional high school didn’t work for them, and they are creating success for themselves with the flexible, personalized education offered by EAA. “I don’t like being around a lot of people. I get anxiety,” says Alliyah. Her sister concurs, saying of the crowded hallways and classrooms of traditional school, “It was a lot of drama. I don’t want that.” In addition to a challenging social dynamic, the sisters say that it was hard to get the one-on-one help they needed from teachers who were busy with a large number of students. “I never felt I was comfortable enough with myself asking for help,” says Kaisa. Her sister added, “I needed more help from teachers.” The sisters found their way to EAA, which works in partnership with the Ector County Independent School District to provide a personalized path to students who had been frustrated in traditional settings. They found a learning home in the open, airy space with a panoramic view of Odessa; enjoyed the comfy, cafe-style seating, and found the focus they needed in the quiet, studious environment. “I like being able to study by myself in a room,” says Alliyah. “I don’t have many distractions.” The Navarettes say EAA educators are always ready to listen, coach and lend a helping hand. Alliyah credits GCA Megan Whitty with checking in on her regularly and helping her get past obstacles in her coursework. Grammar is sometimes a challenge, she says, and Whitty patiently works with her to clarify word meaning and smooth out syntax. “She wants me to graduate.” Kaisa struggles with geometry, but says math coach Jennifer Rosario-Perez works patiently with her to break down the problems and help her master the material. “She’ll go over it, she doesn’t get impatient with me,” she says. “Whenever I feel like I’m aggravating a person, I’ll quit.” Rather than juggling multiple courses in a traditional school, they and their classmates at EAA are able to take one course at a time, demonstrating mastery before moving on to the next. Says Alliyah, “It’s easier for me to do one course at a time so I can focus on it.” Alliyah is hoping to graduate this summer and move on to cosmetology school. Kaisa likely has a couple of years to go, but then sees herself going on to college, getting a good job and living a quiet life. Both are grateful for the way EAA is helping them to reach their goals. Alliyah says simply, “I want to graduate.” 16 Pathways | Spring 2023
MARION COUNTY ACCELERATION ACADEMIES MCAA Director Wayne Livingston: ‘You Just Have to Keep Pushing Through’ In 35 years as a Florida public school educator, Wayne Livingston saw that one size does not fit all. “For years, I’ve been saying, ‘Man, we need something else to offer students,” says Livingston, who worked as a special education teacher, sports coach and school principal in traditional schools before becoming Director of Marion County Acceleration Academies. “Our mission is really simple: give the graduation candidates another chance.” Livingston, a 59-year-old father of two, knows something about pursuing a different path. Growing up in Harlem, he saw too many of his neighbors and friends get caught up in addiction, crime and unrealized potential. Early on, he decided to pursue a different route — to strive for success in the classroom, in sports, and in life. Livingston’s strength as an athlete brought him to the University of Florida, where he was a track standout. Senior year, he did an internship as a physical education teacher at North Marion High School. The principal saw how well Livingston connected with the students and offered him a job — not as a PE teacher but as a special educator. At 22, Livingston was was old enough to be an authority figure, but young enough to be relatable. As he helped his students work through academic, personal and emotional challenges, he showed them that he would stay right by their side, no matter what. Livingston was paying it forward. Growing up, he had to deal with a serious stutter; he fondly recalls a middle school science teacher who provided firm but loving guidance and encouragement to help him overcome the challenge. “You don’t know your impact on a person,” he says. “The work I’m doing now with these kids is giving them a second chance, in some cases a third chance, to look at life differently.” Livingston is a big man with kind eyes who moves quietly through the MCAA campus, checking in with graduation candidates and encouraging them to be their best selves. “You’re closer to success than you might realize,” he tells them. “You just have to keep pushing through.” “ “You’re closer to success than you might realize.” - Wayne Livingston’s advice to his Graduation Candidates Pathways | Spring 2023 17
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