Government officials toured the Star Academy at Grove Street Alternative School Wednesday morning to see the progress of the school.
“This is the way education should be,” said State Rep. John L. Moore. He, along with Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Chad Shealy, assistant superintendent David Campbell, special programs coordinator Jason McKellar, PITSCO/Star Academy representative Virginia Robinson and State Reps. Oscar Denton and Alex Monsour walked through the four classrooms that make up the Star Academy.
Moore is Chairman of the Education Committee and in the last legislative session helped appropriate the funds for the academy. They came to see what kind of progress the academy and students have made over the course of the school year.
The program is meant to slow down and keep students from dropping out and class didn’t stop as the school and government officials walked around classrooms. The group watched students actively work together in their classes.
“This is the way education should be,” Moore said. It’s amazing to watch these kids learn he added.
Smart boards hung at the front of each classroom and in each room kids were equipped with computers and tablets.
“Look at the equipment these kids have to work with. All of a sudden learning is cool,” he added.
“I love the Star Academy. I Love to see children who once felt lost learn something new,” Robinson said. She said she was excited to see the students and the school.
“I love to see kids graduate and for the ones who felt like they didn’t matter, to know that they do,” she said.
There are 80 students that attend Star and like the school they are striving for success. Each classroom has two teachers and is full of the latest technologies offered for education and learning.
“These kids come from different schools. Some of these kids are from the county and some are from the city this matters to these kids yet you do not see them fighting instead they are sitting side-by-side working together,” said Shealy.
Shealy who is the program’s biggest supporter says that he wishes all students had this opportunity. “These kids are doing things at a desk that we do everyday,” he added.