Carol's Story

(Yep – names changed)

Carol and her family lived in New Jersey before moving to Georgia.  They had done research to find a school system that as closely as possible matched what they had in NJ and bought the home they did because it allowed him to attend a CCSD school.  Carol has a degree in Early Childhood Education and she understands the importance of a solid foundation so they enrolled her son, Brody, in Goddard for preschool and worked with him at home as well.  He was a smart child and absorbed what he was taught.  By Kindergarten, was reading chapter books like Magic Treehouse.

Brody's public school Kindergarten teacher was somewhat at a loss for how best to take care of this child.  Some of her students had not attended pre-school at all and she had to bring those children up to speed.  She borrowed first grade books for him to read and recommended him for the AIM program but Carol declined because she worried that if he did not pass in Kindergarten, he would have to wait another two years before being tested for the program again. Bored and frustrated, Brody began acting out in class and was punished for his misbehavior.  When he met his first grade teacher at Meet and Greet, Carol  sensed she'd been warned already that Brody was a trouble-maker.  Soon, he had his desk right beside the teacher's – removed from his friends and still bored with the curriculum. 

Carol and Brody were thrilled with the teacher he got for second grade.  This was someone who worked with Brody and tried to keep his mind stimulated.  He tested for and was accepted into AIM that year but one day a week was not enough of a difference for him.  Carol worked with him at home to feed his ravenous mind but "it seemed like the more we worked extra with him, the further the gap became and the more bored he was at school. It seemed like a battle we could never win."  So, in second grade, he was diagnosed with ADHD but Carol felt that the problem was that her son was just bored to distraction.  Third grade was more of the same but that year, Carol heard about charter school trying to get approval from CCSD.

Carol sent Brody to Cherokee Charter Academy for his fourth grade year.  "He felt welcomed, appreciated and CHALLENGED! He had an incredible teacher for fourth grade who gave them as much writing as most GA 5th graders have to do! She went over and beyond the minimum GA standards! That was exactly what our son needed. He needed that extra "oomph".  While at CCSD, he frequently got straight A's with minimal effort. Now, at CCA, he has to work for them! The first time he brought home a report card with B+s on it, he feared getting in trouble because they "weren't good grades like he normally got". I cried as I realized my son was finally being challenged enough that he struggled (just a bit!) in his classes and actually got Bs! I was so proud of him for those Bs!"

Brody has also blossomed socially since he is no longer viewed as "the bad kid."  Carol and her husband attend the monthly PTC (Parent Teacher Co-op) meetings and love that they don't have to pay to attend like they'd had to at his other school.  "We love being actively involved and knowing what it going on all the time. I'm not sure which of us love CCA more, but we could not be happier with our decision to switch our son to being a part of Cherokee Charter Academy."