By Bobbi Pippin
Mountain Education (ME) is a family of students and educators with a campus right here in Fannin County that has been serving the community for over 10 years.
Public Relations Representative and Family Engagement Liaison Cindy Hicks, as well as one of the principals, Vicki Henry, spoke about the benefits of Mountain Education (ME) and its offerings.
ME creates an evening education for high school students where they can learn at their own pace and receive the attention from educators they may need to succeed.
Students feel that ME is the place from them for many reasons including, the need to work during regular school hours, the need to care for a child, or any reason day school just doesn’t work for them.
Some students simply want an individualized learning experience. They may not mesh socially with other students. They might be behind in credits, or want to get ahead. Either way, ME serves the needs of many different types of students.
Henry explained, some “Some people don’t do well in day school, but blossom in night school.”
ME has so many success stories from students who have either graduated from there or are currently enrolled. Since opening, the Fannin campus has graduated over 150 students.
One student who graduated from ME, Kameron Godfrey stated, “It not only gave me the opportunity to work more hours at my job while I was in school, but also gave me the freedom to choose the speed at which I did my work...” Godfrey went on to further his education at Young Harris College.
Students at ME can come in Monday-Thursday from 4-8. They can also work virtually from 10-2 at home. The schedule is very flexible for students as well to make time for other circumstances they may face.
They can come every day and get their credits done quickly, or they can take off days as needed and stay enrolled until they complete their credits. Students are allowed to stay enrolled at ME until they are 21.
A parent of a currently enrolled student, Jackie Self told her son’s experience. She told about the school’s effort to ensure students come to school by “always doing something special such as initiatives to come to school and complete tests.”
Dinner is provided every day at ME, to make sure each student is fed and encourage students to come to school. There are also awards nights to push students to work hard in their studies. Another big incentive for students to complete work are rewards like field trips.
Recently, students were able to complete an academic based scavenger hunt, catered to their levels and needs, and the reward was a field trip to the aquarium.
Hicks stated, “We’ve been blessed to utilize Fannin County School System utilities for our program.”
A parent of a graduated student Tina Roberson really bragged on the school saying, “because there are less students, they can give more one on one time and it really made a difference in my son.”
At ME, each student is assigned a mentor. This is a person that can work one on one with a student to touch base each week and be a support system for them. Hicks stated, “If a student isn’t coming to school, that mentor knows why and is working with them” They also have a 14:1 student to teacher ratio to ensure each students needs are met.
At ME, students can receive an actual high school diploma as well as receive scholarships and guidance for college or whatever other career path they are interested in.
Students are able to take all of their core classes as well as Physical Education, Health, Spanish, and Career Competencies classes. They offer tutors in English and Math for students who need some assistance.
They even offer events such as career night where students can explore their options for after high school. With the help of generous donors, they can offer scholarships to students planning on furthering their education.
Mountain Education provides a quality education to students from different backgrounds to ensure that every child is given an opportunity in life, no matter their circumstances.
ME’s vision statement reads, “The first choice for a second chance to build a better future through education” and the educators and administrators at ME are passionate about their cause.