Louisiana Connections Academy

As Governor Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana Legislature and advocates for public education prepare to tackle his proposed education agenda, I would like to say “thanks” to all involved in chartering the first statewide online public school, Louisiana Connections Academy.

Louisiana Connections Aca­demy is a “virtual” K-12 school open to any public school student because all the classes happen online. My son, a 6th grader, is enrolled and my wife serves as his “learning coach,” the in-home person who helps keep him accountable for his assignments and diligent in his study.

I was interested in Louisiana having a virtual charter school because as film producers, my wife and I often dreamed of having a more flexible school environment so our son could travel with us. An online public school schedule, we reasoned, could almost be as flexible as our filmmaker schedule.

That is how I came to volunteer to help organize Louisiana Connections Academy, and today, thanks to the help of many parents across this state, nearly 600 children in grades K-12 are served. Our principal is Caroline Wood and I now serve as Board Chair.

My son’s lessons are tailored to his style of learning, and every morning he connects with his teachers and fellow students online, where he is “virtually” in the classroom

We’re all thriving under this new arrangement. My wife and my son have fallen in love with the school, its excellent teachers and their hands-on guidance. World history is my son’s new passion and Algebra is a fun game for him. He’s a member of the chess club and he’s even going to participate in a Legislative exercise for students.

Louisiana Connections Academy is a real place, located in Baton Rouge, where Principal Wood, her faculty of certified teachers and staff administrators gather during the school day to teacher children like my son.

The classroom is “virtually” anywhere there is a child, a computer and the internet in Louisiana. Textbooks, science equipment, a computer and internet subsidy are provided as part of the school; field trips are scheduled; and like any public school, it is free. Because it is online, any Louisiana student can enroll.

So, I’m writing to say “Thank you.” Thank you to Governor Bobby Jindal and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for seeing fit to charter this school. Thank you to the Legislature for providing funding for charter education. And most of all, thank you to all the parents, educators, students and community leaders who spoke up and said this program was needed.

– Wade Henderson
Board President
Louisiana Connections Academy

This article was originally published in the March 5, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper