Grateful graduates, Lee County School Board member Melisa Giovannelli and Acceleration Academies leaders were featured at a ribbon-cutting October 23 to celebrate the opening of a new, permanent site for Lee County Acceleration Academies (LCAA) in Fort Myers, Florida.
“I’d like to welcome our distinguished guests from the school board of Lee County (both current and past), Lee County School District staff, our students, families and educators,” said Acceleration Academies CEO Kelli Campbell. “I’d like to specifically thank School Board member Melisa Giovannelli. Your support for building this program to offer students an alternative to traditional high schools has made all the difference in our academy growing to the point where we serve 240 students.”
“In January of 2023, Lee County Acceleration Academies opened in a temporary location to offer students who were struggling in a traditional setting a chance to re-engage in their high school education,” Campbell continued. “We are delighted to welcome you to our new, permanent campus, a facility that we hope will serve Lee County for years to come.”
School Board member Giovannelli applauded the partnership between Acceleration Academies and her district. “This state-of-the-art center is designed to provide unique pathways for students to achieve their high school diploma,” she said. “I am honored and blessed to have been an integral part of bringing this opportunity to Lee County for our students.”
Led by LCAA Director Shelley Markgraf, the unique hybrid high school program offers a flexible, personalized curriculum to students who did not find success in traditional schools. Students who have dropped out, need a non-traditional learning environment or want to accelerate their progress have a place to earn their high school diplomas through a combination of in-person and remote learning.
The ribbon-cutting featured speeches from two recent graduates of the Lee County academy. One of them, Briseyda Valdez-Alonzo, said that her parents came to the United States from Mexico in hopes of giving their children an opportunity for a better life — a life that begins with a good education.
Briseyda is a serious student, but family troubles made it hard for her to focus on classes at her former, traditional high school.
“For a long time, I faced challenges in my personal life which made it difficult for me to focus on my studies. Like many high school students, I heard the phrase ‘leave your problems at the door.’ But the truth is, it’s not that easy. Personal struggles weighed heavily on me, and traditional public schools often lack the mental health resources we need to really thrive,” she said.
“That’s where Acceleration Academies stepped in. When I first walked through those doors, I was lost — struggling with a 1.6 GPA and feeling hopeless about my future. But the support I found here was unlike anything I’d experienced before. The teachers and staff genuinely cared about my well-being, offering not only academic support but also mental health programs that helped me address my challenges head-on.”
Another recent grad, Alexiann Edwards, had been frustrated by juggling multiple courses and not getting enough personal attention in her former, traditional high school in Jamaica. All that changed when her family moved to Florida and she enrolled at Lee County Acceleration Academies. Here, she was able to focus on one course at a time and receive help whenever she needed.
“My time here taught me resilience, creativity and the value of community — it has shaped me into the amazing person that I am today. The lessons I’ve learned, the friendships I forged, and the mentors who guided me have stayed with me,” said Alexiann. “Oh! And let’s not forget about the wonderful teachers who inspired me to pursue my passions and push beyond my limits.
“This new building represents more than just a physical space; it’s a beacon of hope, opportunity, and growth,” she said. “It’s a testament to the power of education in transforming lives, and believe me it will, because my life was transformed.”
“The Acceleration Academies program is built on the belief that every student, regardless of their circumstances, deserves a flexible and personalized journey to success,” Mark Graves, Executive Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer, told the crowd. “The students we serve are talented, resilient and capable of incredible things, and it is our privilege to provide them with the tools they need to thrive. I want to extend my deepest thanks to the School District of Lee County for their visionary leadership in making this program possible.”
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Acceleration Academies to help students find a path to high school graduation,” Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kenneth A. Savage said in a message sent before the ribbon-cutting. “Good luck in your new facility.”
The Fort Myers program is part of a growing nationwide network of Acceleration Academies, which operates 22 campuses in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Nevada, California and Washington State. The academies re-engage students who have struggled in traditional schools for a variety of reasons, including the need to work full-time or care for young children; the need for more one-to-one attention; or a desire to accelerate their studies in order to graduate early and move forward with plans for college, military service, work or career paths. To meet such needs, Acceleration Academies provide a blend of independent online study and in-person academic, social and emotional support.
Like all public school programs, LCAA is free of charge and open to students up to age 21 who want to earn their high school diploma. Education Week featured the network due to its success in re-engaging students after the Covid pandemic.
Pictures from the event are available on the Acceleration Academies Flickr.
Find more information at: www.accelerationacademies.org
