Online School Strengthens Father-Son Relationship

As a single parent, Santa Ysabel father Russell Jones Sr. and his son are close, more like friends than father and son. There’s an unusual part of their life that’s brought them even closer together--Jones Sr. works with his son every day in his education as a Learning Coach for his son who is enrolled in California Virtual Academies (CAVA). Jones Sr. is partially retired, but is currently working on writing a book from home. 

California Virtual Academies are a network of tuition-free, online public charter schools throughout California for students in grades K-12. Students go to school full-time, online from wherever there is an Internet connection and work with state-certified teacher and a rigorous curriculum. It’s an individualized program that can adapt to a student’s strengths, learning styles and challenges.  

As a Learning Coach, Jones Sr. works with his son every day at home, keeping him on track with a robust curriculum and provided daily lesson plans, overseeing progress and working with the support of six state certified teachers; one for each of Jones’ courses.  Jones is a ninth grader; this is his first year enrolled in CAVA.   

 “It’s great being a Learning Coach,” states Jones Sr. “It was a bit of an adjustment during our first semester, but the CAVA teacher has been fantastic in helping us learn how to use the online program. Russell is doing really well.”

An estimated 3,300 students are enrolled in CAVA @San Diego which includes the Imperial, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties. Jones says that he and his son, Russell, decided to make the shift from the traditional school setting to CAVA because they were moving and the options in their new school district were limited. “We were unsure about the local schools when we moved to Santa Ysabel last year and CAVA seemed like the right thing for our family. It ensured us high academic rigor and gave us the chance to be together more. It’s really been great.”

Parents are able to be very involved in helping their child thrive, but have clear guidance and plans to ensure a high-quality education. CAVA is a public charter school, so it meets or exceeds state curriculum requirements; students are subject to state testing.

Many students enrolled in CAVA do so because they live a mobile lifestyle; for example, their parents may be in the military. But other students, like Russell Jones, choose to enroll in an online learning environment because they are eager to learn at a faster pace, they have school safety concerns, they seek relief from bullying, or they may need more time to grasp concepts. Online learning isn’t for every family, but for many students, the individualized learning model that CAVA provides a path to success in school, and gives families the opportunity to be more closely involved in their child’s education.

To learn more about California Virtual Academies, visit k12.com/cava