Connected Academy Principal Named, Informational Meetings Planned For January

Posted Friday, December 22, 2006

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Dr. Susan Caster has been named principal of the new Connected Academy, a Fulton County charter school scheduled to open in August 2007. She is joined by Allison Edwards, the school’s administrative assistant, as hosts of two Connected Academy informational meetings on January 16 and January 18.

Both meetings begin at 7 p.m. at Connected Academy’s location within the Milton Center (formerly Milton High School) at 86 School Drive, Alpharetta, and will be held in the school auditorium.

As a charter school, Connected Academy is publicly funded and will operate according to the terms of a charter (or contract) that has been approved by the Fulton County Board of Education and the Georgia Board of Education. Charter schools may request waivers from certain state requirements relating to schools. In exchange for this flexibility, they are bound by contract to be held accountable for meeting the performance-based objectives specified in the charter.

Connected Academy’s charter allows for more hands-on, project-based education for juniors and seniors. The curriculum meets state requirements for obtaining a college preparatory diploma, but with a twist – classes are individualized to students’ interests and geared toward “connecting” the classroom to the real world.

Formerly an assistant principal at Centennial, Milton, and Roswell high schools, Dr. Caster believes Connected Academy’s unique learning environment will be a draw to students who are bright but may not find the atmosphere of a traditional high school to be the right fit for their learning style.

“Connected Academy will provide an environment that challenges and motivates the student who continually asks, ‘Why do I need to know this? When will I ever use this?” she says. “This school will provide instruction that makes learning relevant to the outside world. The curriculum provides opportunities for students to search for and find answers to the questions they ask.”

During the January 16 and January 18 meetings, Dr. Caster will address the key innovating factors that separate Connected Academy from its traditional high school counterparts as well as the application process for students. As a public charter school, Connected Academy is tuition-free and open to all rising high school juniors and seniors living within Fulton County School System attendance zones. Like all other Fulton County high schools, Connected Academy is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Connected Academy also will offer smaller classes and distance learning (online, virtual, and video-conference) classes. Demonstration of learned skill will be a large part of how students’ progress is assessed rather than just the traditional pencil-and-paper tests. Students, however, still will undergo mandatory state testing, such as the Georgia High School Graduation Tests and End-of-Course Tests.

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