Going to Georgia Virtual Academy

Metro Atlanta

Going to Georgia Virtual Academy

Photos: John Sellers does online schoolwork through Georgia Virtual Academy. His mother, Donna Sellers, says the program has given her special needs son a future.

Donna Sellers works with her son, John, on his social studies lesson in Georgia Virtual Academy. Students take lessons online and use the chat function to interact with their teacher.

John Sellers joins his fifth-grade online math class. The state's first virtual school, Georgia Virtual Academy educates 5,000 students. Teachers stream live lessons and far-flung students raise their hands to be recognized by clicking a mouse.

During a break, John plays with some Star Wars toys and his model firetrucks. Students do their schoolwork at home using the computer, but classmates meet most weeks for outings and field trips to socialize, exchange fiction books or turn in homework.

John was bullied when he attended Gwinnett's Sycamore Elementary School. He is a special education student who has Cushing's Syndrome. As a fifth-grader at Georgia Virtual Academy, he has an individualized education plan for his disabilities and is writing essays.

When he left Gwinnett County schools in 2007, John couldn't write, his mother said. His grades have gone from C's, D's and F's to A's and B's.

Donna Sellers says virtual education helped provide a future for her special needs son, who dreams of being a firefighter.

During class, if a student needs help he or she can chat online in private with the teacher. John's mother also has his teacher's cellphone number if needed.

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Donna Sellers works with her son, John, on his social studies lesson in Georgia Virtual Academy. Students take lessons online and use the chat function to interact with their teacher.

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