5 Features of Remote Learning That Benefit Neurodivergent Students
by Corissa Hennessey
Student Stories: District C
byCharlotte Davies
6 min to read
Connections Academy has a long history of providing students with the tools they need to thrive through practical hands-on experience. Students need to be prepared for their futures.
As the nature of work evolves with emerging technologies like AI and other digital tools, the role humans play in the workplace is also changing. High school students need to be prepared for this new way of working, which, perhaps counterintuitively, appears to have a decidedly more human feel to it.
Enter District C's initiative, Teamship.
What Is District C and Teamship?
Teamship is a new way of thinking about internships from District C, resting on the idea that developing human-to-human skills like collaboration, adaptability, and problem-solving is a more impactful way to prepare students for the future of work. When Arkansas Connections Academy decided to partner with District C in 2024, a pilot program began to take shape.
A statement on District C’s homepage sums up their ethos and their innovative Teamship initiative pretty simply:
“Work is changing. Automation is impacting jobs across all industries. Employers are looking for a new kind of talent prepared for the uniquely human job description of the modern economy: work in diverse teams to solve complex problems. Today’s work requires a different kind of preparation.”
District C Pilot Program at Arkansas Connections Academy
As part of the District C Pilot Program at Arkansas Connections Academy, a group of 10th and 12th grade students were paired with real businesses and briefed on some of their pain points. Students then had the chance to come up with detailed action plans to solve them. In turn, the businesses gave students feedback on the solutions they had put together as well as how they intended to build off what the students had provided.
“I think my first reaction was, ‘what a great opportunity’,” said Erin Lieblong, principal at Arkansas Connections Academy. “We did not want to limit it to students who were only in high academic achievement pathways.”
Lieblong explained how her school wanted to make this opportunity as available as possible to any student who was engaged in learning, above all else.
“We wanted to make sure students who were going to plan to go to the workforce or who were going to go to a trade school or who might not know what they want to do yet,” she continued, “we wanted to give this opportunity to any student.”
Students could apply directly, but teachers could also recommend students they felt would benefit from the program. Once all applications were in and students were selected, students were contacted and given the opportunity to enroll in the program.
Student Outcomes and the Impact of Teamship and District C
While initially there was some uncertainty about what to expect, “students that ended up participating had great outcomes and they grew in a lot of areas,” said Lieblong. “We know that when students get to contribute to society, and they get to grow in communication and they get to showcase a depth of understanding,” she said, “we know that they're going to have personal growth.”
Lieblong saw how the program could add value to the students’ lives and their growth as individuals, beyond what skills they could gain for their careers.
Networking, Collaboration, and Engagement
One of the core goals of the District C partnership was building human-based skills for the workplace, so naturally “the networking piece and the collaboration piece was large,” said Lieblong, “I don't know that students really understood how much they would grow together and the engagement piece would be substantial.”
Soft skills like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving became essential as the students worked together. “You don't always know how important and how relevant it is just to be able to communicate with a peer,” said Lieblong. “Students not only got to build friendships and build rapport with other students from other schools across the nation, but they also got to understand just the basic level of collaboration can really impact their career, and it can impact how to just move day to day through life, knowing how to communicate with people.”
Developing Meaningful Friendships and Connections
An intentional element of the Teamship initiative was the connections students made with each other. While one of the specific goals of the program was professional networking, Lieblong pointed out that the program gave students the chance to build personal friendships and shared a story about a student from Georgia who became close enough with a student from Arkansas to attend their high school graduation.
“For families who are concerned about the level of socialization and engaging with other [virtual] students,” she said, “I would tell them that we are always looking for opportunities to enhance communication efforts. And the more we can increase those opportunities, the more value we're going to see from those.”
Learning from Mistakes and Building a Growth Mindset
Lieblong said she didn’t receive any feedback that she felt built herself as a professional until she reached adulthood. The students who participated in District C, however, had the advantage of receiving feedback as part of the structure of the program, and learned to understand and expect feedback.
“I think sometimes we forget how valuable it is to have a growth mindset,” said Lieblong. “I know I can make a mistake, but I know I can try harder the next time and embrace challenges, and I can see failures as opportunities." Having this kind of attitude helps develop resilience and makes people more likely to remain motivated to achieve their goals.
Gaining Optimism for the Future
As an educator, Lieblong knows the impact that this kind of experience can have on students firsthand, especially as they prepare for life after high school and might struggle to feel optimistic about the future. Getting an interactive experience with employers and gaining valuable feedback gave the students confidence, she said, and perhaps most crucially, “It made them understand the equity and the accessibility to these opportunities was not limited. You're going to get opportunities in your future that will allow you to participate and grow as a person.”
Heading into the Future
Lieblong believes the students at Arkansas Connections Academy who participated in the Teamship program will find a lot of success not only because they’ve done something that can be the foundation for their future resumes by working with top tier companies, but also because they have developed practical and interpersonal skills that they can bring with them to jobs across a variety of industries.
Another big benefit? Interview skills.
“Sometimes we all know as adults, interviewing can be the scariest part of getting a job,” said Lieblong. “They have already engaged in opportunities to be interviewed and to participate in interviews and, again, to give feedback and to receive feedback. And so the confidence they've gained from that is going to set them apart at the very beginning.”
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Gold Medalist Nathan Chen Shares His Experience with Online Learning
by Corissa Hennessey
Becoming an Olympian is a long and arduous path for anyone. From rigorous Olympic training schedules to mastering new skills, it takes a lot of time and determination for athletes to reach the world stage. For many Olympic athletes, finding an education program that allows them to train and continue their K–12 education is critical.
If you tuned in to the Winter Olympic Games this year, you’re familiar with American figure skater Nathan Chen, whose unforgettable performance at the Beijing Olympics earned him a gold medal. But what you may not know about Nathan is that he’s a graduate of Connections Academy®. Nathan took time out of his schedule to chat with us about his firsthand experiences with online learning and how it helped afford him the time to commit to the sport he loves.
Nathan Chen’s Experience with Online Learning
Nathan first enrolled in Connections Academy in 2013, and he “knew it would be the right fit” for him. Prior to his enrollment at Connections Academy, he attended traditional in-person schooling. When his training schedule became more rigorous, he and his family wanted a schooling option that would allow him to dedicate more time and energy to training while still receiving a world-class education. That’s when they discovered Connections Academy.
Today, Nathan attends Yale University and is expected to graduate in 2024. He credits Connections Academy’s online learning approach for preparing him for the rigor and independence in college saying,
“Connections Academy’s platform prepared me really well for the independence needed in college, while still providing the one-to-one support I needed to learn.”
While many have preconceived notions about online learning being easy, Nathan said Connections Academy is “just like any other public school—it has a challenging curriculum and high expectations of its students.”
How Connections Academy Provides Solutions to Unique Challenges
The pandemic created significant barriers to traditional learning, and students, parents, and teachers had to make sudden adjustments, often turning to virtual learning as a solution. At the start of the pandemic, Yale went virtual, and it brought Nathan back to his Connections Academy days that he says taught him how to be resourceful—a skill that he was able to carry over when his college shifted to online.
“Connections Academy helped me learn to be resourceful and that was a skill that directly carried over as college went online.”
As many traditional schools attempted to adapt during the pandemic, it created a lot of confusion about how online learning works. Online learning does not mean that you do everything on your own or without teacher and peer support.
In fact, Nathan’s experience is a testament to Connections Academy’s supportive faculty—he received support and guidance from teachers who were in frequent contact with him through email messages, phone calls, and the live online classroom where he was able to interact with not only with his teachers, but his classmates, too.
Connections Academy students have many opportunities to socialize through live online classroom sessions, field trips, clubs, activities, and more. Many students also get to do more extracurricular activities, just like Nathan and figure skating.
“Connections Academy has a great support system of faculty and staff that really catered to the needs of my learning and scheduling. I felt that I could learn at a pace that was individualized for me.”
Connections Academy helped Nathan prepare for college academics and an unexpected pandemic. It also provided a flexible, virtual learning solution for his unique circumstances, including a busy Olympic training schedule.
“Connections Academy prepared me to be able to balance many different activities at the same time while being able to focus on academics.”
Nathan Chen’s Advice to Current Students
1. Budget Your Time.
Between receiving an education, figure skate training, and everything else on his plate, Nathan’s experiences have taught him a lot about managing priorities and being resourceful. When it comes to studying, he recommends that students learn skills for budgeting time as things get busier. Learning to budget his time has helped Nathan prioritize his work throughout the day to be more efficient.
“Connections Academy allows for flexible scheduling, so when you have the time, you can make the most of it.”
2. Be Accountable for Your Work and Ask for Help.
For students entering Connections Academy, Nathan suggests staying on top of deadlines and leaning on your Learning Coach to help you keep track of assignments and upcoming exams. He encourages students to ask for help anytime they need it, enjoy the process of learning, and take breaks from time to time.
3. Communicate Clearly.
Nathan also shared a helpful tip for current students who want to achieve goals and pursue a dream, encouraging students to lean on their support system and be communicative about how they can work together to overcome challenges.
“Be open in communication. Teachers, parents, coaches, etc., all want the best out of you, so let them know how they can help you.”
About Connections Academy
After reading about Nathan Chen’s experience with Connections Academy, you may have some questions of your own. If you’re curious about online school, here are a few frequently asked questions (FAQs) along with answers:
What is Connections Academy, and how does online school work?
Connections Academy schools are full-time, online public schools for students in grades K–12. It means students go to school at home full-time and get all the benefits of a public education, including a close relationship with state-certified teachers and a high-quality curriculum.
Plus, it’s a public school, which means it’s free!
Why choose Connections Academy?
Families choose Connections Academy for many reasons.
Some families choose Connections Academy because their student needs a flexible schedule like Nathan did to allow time for figure skate training. Others attend Connections Academy because they receive more tailored instruction or are advanced learners and can learn at their own pace, and more. Learn more about the ways that Connections Academy supports all types of students.
Are parents the teachers, like homeschool?
Connections Academy schools are public schools, so they have state-certified teachers who are specially trained in online instruction. Just like in a traditional school, teachers provide instruction, grade student work, and provide feedback and support. Parents are involved as Learning Coaches and help support student success.
Still have more questions about Connections Academy and how it works? Check out our FAQs here. Or, take our online quiz to see if virtual school is right for your family.
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Raising Cerebral Palsy Awareness with a Family’s Virtual Learning Story
by Corissa Hennessey
Many children with cerebral palsy face daily challenges when it comes to their health, but their education doesn’t have to have the same challenges. For students with cerebral palsy, it’s critical to find a school with an environment that is supportive, safe, and can deliver the special education framework needed for them to thrive in the classroom.
For online student, Abby, Connections Academy® has proven to be such a school. There, she has dedicated support from teachers and her Learning Coach so that she can approach her lessons and daily schedule in a way that works best for her. Abby’s mother and Learning Coach, Emily, is a Connections Academy alum herself, and knows from experience that the virtual school environment is a perfect fit for her daughter’s unique learning needs.
March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness month, and to help bring awareness to cerebral palsy and the benefits of finding success in online school, we’re highlighting how Abby has been achieving and exceeding milestone expectations.
Abby’s Online School Journey
Having attended Connections Academy as a virtual school student for the past two years, Abby’s journey hasn’t been unlike any other student’s experience. On a typical day, Abby wakes up, helps prepare breakfast, spends time with her family, makes her bed, and begins her online school lessons for the day. With her along the way are her two other siblings, one of whom is also a Connections Academy student.
But where her and her brother’s experiences differ is that the flexibility of Connections Academy allows Abby to attend physical therapy and other beneficial activities related to her condition without having to miss school.
As Learning Coach and mom, Emily uses an alternating schedule that allows her to focus one at a time on Abby and Liam’s lessons rather than trying to monitor both kids at the same time. This flexibility in scheduling is what Emily believes makes Connections Academy such a great fit for their family.
As part of her education, Abby has what is called an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, that supports her learning with specialized staff that make modifications in Abby’s lessons to meet her where she is in the learning process. Emily and Abby meet with Abby’s teachers regularly to review her progress and discuss anything that may need to be adjusted for her needs.
“[Connections Academy is] very much work-at-your-own-pace,” Emily said. “I don’t push her. We don’t have to do everything in one day. We don’t work ahead if that’s not what’s beneficial for her.”
A Day in the Life of Abby
To learn more about a typical day for Abby, check out this video sponsored by Connections Academy:
Facts About Cerebral Palsy
In the United States, about 1 in every 345 children have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Unless you know someone with the disorder, you may not know much about it. An important aspect of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month (and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day) includes educating the public on cerebral palsy as well as the educational needs of children who have the condition. To grow your knowledge, here are the answers to common questions you may be wondering about cerebral palsy:
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term that encompasses many disorders that affect muscle tone, movement, and posture. Cerebral palsy is caused by a disruption in brain development that can be due to mutations, infections, or brain injuries that occur before, during, or after birth.
And, not all cases of cerebral palsy are the same. In fact, each case is unique. Abby was diagnosed with Dandy-Walker malformation. Her condition is rare and just one of many possible cerebral palsy disorders that affect mobility.
When Is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?
Cerebral palsy is typically diagnosed during a child’s first two years of life. Typically, parents begin seeking a diagnosis when their child is not hitting certain mobility milestones, including crawling, walking, or an age-appropriate use of motor skills. It was for these reasons that Abby’s parents began seeking a diagnosis. They eventually discovered her condition is congenital, meaning it occurred while she was in utero.
Does Cerebral Palsy Affect Cognition?
Cerebral palsy doesn’t directly affect cognition, but around 30-50% of cerebral palsy cases include co-occurring intellectual or developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder. Due to challenges related to mobility along with a high potential for co-occurring disorders, many students with cerebral palsy can benefit from a virtual learning option.
Cerebral Palsy and Online Learning
Students with cerebral palsy face challenges that are highly individualized, and their education often requires a significant amount of personalization. Online school provides students with special needs, like cerebral palsy, with the ability to learn in a safe environment with flexible pacing that allows students to focus on their education and well-being.
If co-occurring with autism, students with cerebral palsy may also have difficulties with verbal language processing, socialization, and sensitivity to sensory stimulation, such as bright lighting and noisy school bells.
Students with cerebral palsy or other special needs have the option to create an IEP that’s tailored to their specific learning needs. IEPs enable students to take a personalized approach to their own education and receive ongoing support and modifications throughout the learning process.
Learn more about how Connections Academy’s online public school program can help students with special needs by finding your local Connections Academy school and connecting with the school’s special education representative.
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