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COLUMBIA, SC - On July 24, 2026, Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina was awarded a plaque commemorating their Trauma-Skilled School (TSS) Certification. This certification, earned through a partnership with the National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC), recognizes the school as being trained in trauma-management skills for assisting students in distress. Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina is the first virtual school in the nation to receive this distinction. David Crook, CEO of The Heron Institute, which operates Heron Academy, said, “We believe every student deserves a chance to start a new chapter. Being a Trauma-Skilled School means recognizing that our students’ experiences are part of their story, but they do not have to determine what comes next. This certification reflects what we want Heron to be: A school where students are known, supported, and given the opportunity to write a different ending.” TSS utilizes a framework developed by the NDPC designed to adjust school cultures and empower student and staff resiliency. This is accomplished through training on foundational trauma knowledge, resiliency development, and conflict de-escalation. Each teacher at Heron Virtual Academy has completed these trainings and is prepared to support students in alignment with these best practices. “As the nation’s first virtual school to earn Trauma-Skilled Certification, Heron Virtual Academy is proving that trauma-responsive care isn’t limited by physical boundaries,” said Nancy Nielsen, Certification Specialist for NDPC. “Their educators have shown incredible dedication to building safe, supportive virtual spaces where students feel seen and understood regardless of where they learn. We are thrilled to recognize Heron for leading the way and setting a new standard for online learning across the country.” Heron Virtual Academy is dedicated to bringing a quality education to the students of South Carolina, no matter who they are, where they live or what they have been through. ### Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina is a tuition-free, online public school that is dedicated to helping high school students via personalized alternative pathways to graduation. It has four defining characteristics – a focus on personalized education through its virtual model, comprehensive career-readiness education offerings, a robust Social Emotional Learning component, and provision for student feedback and suggestions. To learn more about HVASC, visit their website: https://hvasc.k12.com/. The Heron Institute is authorized by the Charter Institute at Erskine. Contact Nicki Batson Executive Director, Heron Virtual Academy nbatson@heronacademysc.org 864-659-0356 Harrison Seay Communications Coordinator, Charter Institute at Erskine hseay@erskinecharters.org 803-960-7301

From an idea to provide virtual learning to South Carolina students to creating a school with a sole purpose to serve students who have faced academic challenges, the 12-year history of The Heron Institute was recently preserved in the form of a documentary produced by Charter Institute at Erskine . Choice Stories: Always a Heron tells the story of South Carolina Learns, the predecessor to The Heron Institute. It features perspectives from its long-tenured leadership staff as well as from two students who have found purpose in their enrollment at Heron Institute schools. This full-length feature also charts a path for where The Heron Institute is going, continuing its focus on students while looking ahead at how to best serve students regardless of circumstance. The Heron Institute is a nonprofit organization that oversees operations for Cyber Academy of South Carolina and Heron Virtual Academy. Its mission is to provide virtual education programs that prepare students for life beyond school--regardless of circumstance.

Heron Virtual Academy, the first virtual alternative education campus in South Carolina, opened exclusively to serve students who have faced academic challenges. HVA creates individualized plans to meet students' needs. Learn more in the video below!

In an increasingly crowded virtual school environment, Heron Virtual Academy emerged to fill a critical need--how to serve students who have faced past academic challenges due to chronic absenteeism, credit deficiency, pregnancy, or other reasons. Learn more about the origin of Heron Virtual Academy and hear one student's Heron story.

Sawnsurae Lowe was elected to a two-year term on the SC Learns Board. A parent of students at Cyber Academy of South Carolina, Sawnsurae looks forward to her role on the board. ‘’I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate with fellow board members to enhance educational standards and drive student achievements, ensuring the institution's mission and goals are met effectively.’’   As a Board of Directors member, Sawnsurae brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of fostering academic excellence. With her background in education, she possesses valuable skills in strategic planning, policy development, and organizational leadership.    Sawnsurae is a Bilingual Instructional Facilitator & Educator with over 13 years of dedicated teaching experience. A seasoned educator proficient in creating and delivering engaging lesson plans across a diverse range of subjects. Her expertise is further bolstered with Certifications in TEFL/TESOL, Computer/Course Design, and a proven leader in Standardized Test Preparation.    Currently employed by MasteryPrep, Sawnsurae assists students in achieving college-ready scores on standardized tests, including; ACT, NC MATH, LEAP, TSIA 2, SAT, etc. Providing individualized support and essential test-taking skills to students from diverse backgrounds and learning needs.    Sawnsurae is involved in spearheading the facilitation of product development to educators. Her engaging the educators in the product development process has lead to the creation of more effective educational tools and resources. She has successfully supported numerous students in securing Florida's Bright Futures Scholarships, collectively providing upwards of $3,000,000 in scholarship funding. Resulting in her achievement has of the Award of Excellence in Programming from the Carolina Youth Coalition.    Sawnsurae's passion for working with students and empowering them to achieve their goals is truly admirable. By traveling all over the country to deliver lectures and assistance in high schools, universities, and other educational institutions, She is making a significant impact on the lives of her community and beyond.

March is National Reading Month! This month is a time to encourage readers of all ages to share what they love about reading. Reading has known benefits such as increased cognitive function, memory, and vocabulary. Students! K12 invites you to share your reading adventures this month. You can share your blanket fort photos and videos here and share your reviews on your favorite female authors here . Parents! Wondering how you can incorporate more reading into your students' lives? Check out these literacy tips from Michigan State University: Tips for Reading with Children

On January 16, 2024, HVA hosted an event in Columbia, SC to share stories from our students as well as to celebrate the first graduates of HVA. Click the video to watch coverage of this event from WIS10!

Congratulations to Nicki Batson on her new role as Executive Director of Heron Virtual Academy. ✨ Nicki Batson is proud to be serving students, families, and educators around the state of South Carolina as the Executive Director of Heron Virtual Academy. Nicki has been an educator since 2005 and has served in various educational roles in both traditional brick-and-mortar schools and the virtual learning environment. Nicki has served as a classroom teacher, teacher mentor, lead teacher, and high school principal. She has dedicated her career to ensuring students have access to rigorous and enriching educational opportunities while working to create a supportive and encouraging learning environment for students. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Nicki has coached multiple female sports teams and sponsored academic and service student clubs, fostering teamwork and leadership skills in her community. Prior to joining the Heron Academy team, Nicki was a part of the Cyber Academy High School team and is looking forward to continuing the mission of providing a learning atmosphere where students feel supported and motivated to excel. Her goal is for Heron Academy to be a program where each student has the personalized attention needed to identify and pursue their goals, ensuring each learner receives the necessary support to reach their full potential.   Photo of Nicki Batson