An Alumna’s Dedication to Helping Students with Diverse Needs
Jennie Harris
December 6, 2024
Alumna Nicole Myers (Class of ’23) is working toward becoming a teacher, inspired by her time in PA Cyber’s peer-to-peer tutoring program. In high school, she dedicated many hours to tutoring younger students in math and science to prepare them for the yearly PSSA exams. “I really liked being there with them and helping them better understand things,” she said. She recalls her group tutoring sessions became lively when the students sang together and conversed in the chat. “It was a good experience.”
She also tutored students in one-on-one sessions. One tutee had dyslexia, and Nicole was determined to help her. Nicole has a visual processing disorder where she flips letters when reading and writing, and she spent years in physical and occupational therapy learning how to write numbers and letters. After successfully helping the student with dyslexia, Nicole was pretty sure she could help others. She began to imagine a career in teaching.
Today, she is in her second year attending Grand Canyon University online from home in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, and maintains a spot on the Dean’s List. She plans to earn a double major in elementary and special education.
Before coming to PA Cyber in sixth grade, Nicole experienced bullying, and in her schoolwork, she started flipping letters. After trying two other cyber charter schools, the Myers family enrolled Nicole and her brothers at PA Cyber in 2016.
She cited PA Cyber’s Life Skills and Character Education classes as particularly helpful in preparing her for college. Character Education helped her interpret other people’s facial expressions, which can be challenging due to her autism. She also feels PA Cyber strengthened her understanding of technology, setting her up well for attending college online.
Nicole’s journey from a student at PA Cyber to an aspiring educator at Grand Canyon University demonstrates resilience and dedication. Her experiences as an IMPACT tutor ignited her passion for teaching and equipped her with the empathy and skills necessary to support students with diverse learning needs. Best wishes to Nicole as she continues her path to becoming a certified teacher!
Click here to learn more about IMPACT tutoring. If a student is interested in becoming an IMPACT tutor or being tutored, contact one of the staff members below.
Math: Richard.Russell@pacyber.org
Science: Jesse.Light@pacyber.org