In our most recent Hootworthy podcast episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with Ms. Marian Hoyt, GCA's 2023 Teacher of the Year. With over a decade of teaching experience, including three years at GCA, Ms. Hoyt brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the classroom.When asked about her time-travel destination, Ms. Hoyt’s imagination took her back to the 1700s in the United States. She envisioned herself amidst the passionate debates surrounding the Constitution, intrigued by the historical significance and relevance of the discussions.Ms. Hoyt’s journey into teaching was deeply rooted in childhood dreams of playing school and educating her stuffed animals. It was her high school AP English teacher's unwavering passion for teaching that ultimately inspired her to pursue a teaching degree at Georgia State University.Despite the challenges of balancing coursework and a full-time job, Ms. Hoyt persevered, landing a long-term substitute position before securing a full-time teaching role. Her favorite aspect of teaching lies in the connections she forms with her students, from heartfelt conversations to unexpected gestures like a student making her a small chair as a token of appreciation.Although Ms. Hoyt’s expertise lies in teaching ELA and SS, if she could teach something else for a day, she'd opt for math, drawn to its logical and problem-solving aspects. Her advice for fellow educators, students, and parents at GCA emphasizes the importance of communication, participation, and maintaining a positive attitude.Beyond the confines of the classroom, Ms. Hoyt enjoys outdoor adventures, hiking, and quality time with her furry companion. She expresses gratitude for the unwavering support of her colleagues and leadership team, whose guidance has been instrumental in her teaching journey.Ms. Hoyt's dedication to her students and her enthusiasm for education make her a standout teacher at GCA. Her journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of teaching and the enduring impact educators have on shaping young minds. Stay Hootworthy, Ms. Hoyt!

In our latest Hootworthy episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Autumn, an eighth-grader at GCA who is also a compassionate cat rescuer. Her journey into the world of cat rescuing began when a family property became a refuge for a feral cat colony. Autumn, alongside her grandmother, embarked on a mission to rescue kittens and prepare them for their forever homes.With three years of professional cat rescue experience and a total of eight years dedicated to the cause, Autumn shared the details of their approach. For feral cats, the goal is to catch, spay or neuter, and release, unless the feline can be tamed for eventual adoption. The methods involve live traps, strategically designed metal boxes with enticing food, and a drop trap for more elusive subjects.Autumn shed light on the heartwarming efforts to find suitable homes for non-feral cats after spaying or neutering. From rescuing multiple kittens at once to daring escapades, like retrieving a lost kitten stuck in a tree near a dog park, every experience in cat rescue has left an unforgettable mark.A poignant lesson Autumn shared was the importance of not judging someone's circumstances, a wisdom gleaned from her cat-rescue endeavors. As she navigates her eighth-grade year at GCA, Autumn appreciates the flexibility the school provides, allowing her to seamlessly balance education with her passion for cats.Autumn, your dedication to rescuing our feline friends is commendable! Keep up the fantastic work, stay hootworthy, and continue making a positive impact in the lives of these furry companions.

In our latest Hootworthy podcast episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Braylen, a talented 10th grader who crafts captivating Lego stop-motion films. We first discovered Braylen's skill when he submitted a video for GCA's Got Talent, our annual virtual showcase. Little did we know, he already had a collection of over 130 videos on his YouTube channel, Epic Brick Films.Braylen's stop-motion process involves detailed steps: constructing sets, selecting figurines, scripting stories (or improvising), and meticulously capturing each frame. His talent show submission, a two-minute video, required a six-hour effort—a testament to his dedication. Over four years into creating Brick films, Braylen utilizes simple yet effective equipment like his phone, a tripod, and editing software, showcasing content ranging from Marvel and Star Wars to DC Comics and original concepts.When asked which character he'd bring to life, Braylen chose the Mandalorian for an exciting armor-building day, including a jet-pack of course! Yet, his craft isn't without challenges; managing lighting nuances is crucial to avoid shadows and flickers that could compromise a shot. Offering advice to GCA students, Braylen emphasizes perseverance and pushing through challenges.For Braylen, GCA's greatest perk is the ability to work without distractions, a conducive environment for his creative endeavors. As he gears up for next year's GCA's Got Talent, Braylen sends shoutouts to his supportive parents and brother. You can catch a glimpse of his impressive work on his YouTube channel, Epic Brick Films. Thanks for representing GCA so well, Braylen, and stay Hootworthy!

On the latest episode of Hootworthy, we had the pleasure of hosting Shawna, a 2023 graduate of GCA, who achieved 3rd place at the 4-H State Congress competition during the summer. In our conversation, we explored the world of 4-H youth clubs and the valuable experiences they offer. These clubs delve into a wide array of subjects, from STEM to healthy living and leadership, providing numerous opportunities for young learners to compete and engage in exciting activities.Shawna's journey into the 4-H world was unique. Typically startingin the 5th grade, she managed to get involved earlier due to her olderbrother's participation, often attending meetings with him. Her initialmotivation for joining 4-H was to find social opportunities, as she confessedto being a bit shy in her earlier days. 4-H played a pivotal role in helpingher overcome her shyness, connect with people, and build lasting friendships.One of her most cherished experiences was as a teen leader at Rock Eagle.While Shawna's journey through 4-H brought her numerous lifelessons, one of the most valuable was the art of public speaking. In fact, manyof the 4-H competitions she participated in revolved around public speakingopportunities, which reinforced her communication skills and boosted herconfidence.The 4-H State Congress competition, where Shawna achieved 3rdplace, is no small feat to reach. Participants typically need to win atsweepstakes or place at district competition to earn their spot. Shawna'sticket to the State Congress was her 2nd place victory at district competition.For this competition, Shawna showcased her crochet skills while presenting herbeautiful, crocheted figurines. The competition itself took place in a hoteland spanned several days.During her journey, she practiced her speech with a friend on thefirst night, then faced a panel of judges on the second day, answering theirquestions and delivering her presentation. The competition ended on a high notewith a silent disco, where everyone, winners, and participants alike, dancedthe night away with headphones on. Winners were announced at the end of thenight, and to Shawna’s excitement, she heard her name ringing out as the 3rdplace winner, a well-deserved recognition of her talent and hard work.As we wrapped up our conversation, Shawna reflected on her time asa GCA student. She highlighted the unique privilege of attending school in thecomfort of her own home, often in her pajamas—a freedom that made her academicjourney more enjoyable. Shawna also expressed her deep appreciation for theteachers who supported her. In addition, she gave a heartfelt shoutout to hermentors in Polk County 4-H, Williams and Ridgeway, who encouraged her toexplore her potential and discover her passion for crochet. This was thebeginning of her road to the State Congress, a journey that she'll cherish fora lifetime. Stay hootworthy, Shawna! 

In the latest episode of Hootworthy, we had the incredible opportunity to sit down with The BoykinZ, a sensational country music group that's been taking TikTok by storm. What sets them apart? Well, they're not just any band—they're four talented sisters, three of whom graduated from Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), with one still making her way through GCA high school. In our chat, we uncovered how attending GCA influenced their extraordinary journey and the unique bond that makes their music so special.For The BoykinZ, the GCA experience has been more than just academics— a journey that strengthened their sisterly bond. They leaned on each other, collaborated, and made each other feel at ease, ultimately enhancing their chemistry and musical harmony. Being able to spend more time together, thanks to the flexibility provided by GCA, was a game-changer. It allowed them to take their schoolwork with them as they embarked on their musical adventures, striking a harmonious balance between their studies and budding careers.The BoykinZ have already graced numerous stages across the country, but a few performances hold a special place in their hearts. One standout memory was their trip to New York, where they performed at a school. To their surprise, the students had learned the choreography to their hit single "Girls Night" and performed it for them.Their Texas trip was another highlight, where they performed during a rodeo's halftime show. Singing and dancing in the dirt under the Texas sky, they embraced the true spirit of country music. Also, singing the national anthem at a Miami Heat game was an unforgettable experience. Lastly, performing with Shania Twain during the Queen of Me Tour was a whirlwind experience. Though it felt quick, they shared the stage with a country music legend and sang two songs to a huge crowd.While The BoykinZ have ventured far and wide, they hold a special place in their hearts for the moments they enjoyed at GCA. From receiving art kits to hopping on the mic during live classes, these experiences added a unique flavor to their education. Interacting with their peers and teachers was equally cherished, providing them with childhood memories and a profound connection to their school. When asked which singers they'd love to swap voices with, The BoykinZ had an impressive list. From Stevie Wonder's soulful tones to Anita Baker's smooth melodies, Whitney Houston's powerhouse vocals, Jasmine Sullivan's soul-stirring voice, Rihanna's captivating sound, and Luther Vandross's timeless tunes, their choices reflect their deep appreciation for a wide range of musical styles.The BoykinZ had some words of wisdom for current GCA students: Actively participate in live classesBe presentStay on camera. But most importantly, they encouraged everyone to dream big. Their own journey from GCA to the big stage is a testament to what's possible when you set your sights high.To give us a taste of their musical talent, The BoykinZ sang the chorus of "These Boots are Made for Walking" right in the studio. Their voices blended harmoniously, leaving us wanting more.If you're eager to discover more about The BoykinZ and their captivating music, head over to their website at theboykinz.com. You can also follow them on various social media platforms @theboykinZ.Before wrapping up our chat, The BoykinZ wanted to express their gratitude to their parents, their loving family, GCA, their dedicated teachers, and all the GCA alumni who have supported them along their remarkable journey.Tune in to Hootworthy for the full interview and get ready to be charmed by the harmonious voices and incredible journey of The BoykinZ!

We kicked off Season 3 of Hootworthy chatting with Mike Kooi, the new superintendent at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA). The conversation gave us a glimpse into the personal and professional side of Mike. For example, if Mike could choose a superpower, he'd go for flying because he loves travelling. It would make family travels with his wife and 16-month-old son much easier.Mike's journey to GCA's superintendent is a different path from most superintendents. Starting as a litigation attorney, he gradually shifted to the education sector. From defending school choice programs to becoming the budget director for education under Governor Deal, his experience is diverse. His connection with GCA began as the executive director for the board, and he officially became superintendent in May 2023.Mike's top three priorities for GCA are clear. First, he's keen on recruiting and retaining excellent teachers, believing impactful learning begins in the classroom. Second, he's determined to support struggling students through innovative strategies and programs. Third, staying on top of technology trends is a must to enhance the learning experience.His advice to students and parents? Embrace challenges and even failures; they build resilience. For teachers, he encourages pushing students beyond their comfort zones. Also, if he were to teach, history would be Mike's subject of choice. He's captivated by how past events shape the present, and he would want to share this passion with students.Building a sense of community at GCA is important to Mike. From field trips to community days, he's all about engagement. Optional programs for families looking to connect are also in the works. Outside work, Mike enjoys walks with his family and their two Australian Shepherds. He's a sports enthusiast, rooting for University of Florida football and the Atlanta Braves. Travel is another love of his, but it has been less frequent since the birth of his son.We look forward to what is in store for GCA under Mike’s leadership!

Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) has many amazing students including Natalia, who recently appeared on the school's podcast, Hootworthy, to share her achievement of earning the title of GCA's Class of 2023 Valedictorian. Natalia spoke about her journey to becoming valedictorian and what it means to her. She highlighted the long nights, dedication, and hard work that paid off to achieve this goal.Aside from being an excellent student, Natalia has a passion foradventure and exploring. She is a certified scuba diver and rates scuba divingas one of the coolest things one can do. She loves to see the diverse marinelife, and her dream is to dive with hundreds of sharks (could be a nightmarefor others). Natalia has already completed 20 dives, including a 94-foot cavedive, and understands the importance of being safe and always diving with abuddy.In addition to her adventurous side, Natalia is an analytical andcreative individual who loves to cook, bake, and write poetry. She even wonfirst place for the school’s MLK peace poem last year. Natalia also enjoystraveling and has already visited several countries including Costa Rica,France, and Italy.Natalia advises other students to explore extracurricularactivities and clubs to discover themselves outside of academics. She amassed60 college credits while in high school through dual enrollment at GCA, and shewill be starting her junior year in college at Georgia Tech in the fall,majoring in industrial engineering and possibly minoring in computer science.Natalia's 5 for 5, five things she wants to accomplish in the nextfive years, includes skydiving, scuba diving, rappelling down a waterfall,wingsuit flying, and hot air balloon riding. She is motivated by her passionfor traveling and wants to visit half of the countries in the world.Natalia is an excellent example of a GCA Champion who representsher 2023 class well as their Valedictorian. Her success is a result of herdedication and hard work. Natalia expressed her gratitude to GCA, Hootworthy,and her amazing dual enrollment counselor, Ms. Rose, and her physical scienceteacher, Ms. Newman, for their support. We cannot wait to see what incrediblethings Natalia will accomplish in the future. Congratulations, Natalia, stayhootworthy!

Our latest Hootworthy episode highlights Elon, a 12th grade Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) Champion who earned a scholarship from Jackson State University (JSU) to play soccer! She expressed how much earning this scholarship meant to her, and how it particularly showed her that hard work truly can pay off. Elon began her soccer journey at the age of nine playing in recreation leagues, but quickly moved on to the more competitive select and travel club teams. The travel teams were always the most competitive—the most difficult to earn a spot and the level of play. The most recent travel team she played for required a two-hour drive, just for practice, four times per week! Of course, she is incredibly thankful for her mom driving her to and from all those practices. Elon shared that the farthest she ever traveled for a game was all the way to California! She loved traveling to different places because she was able to do more than just play soccer, she was able to explore the areas too.  Elon prefers playing the forward position on the field because she enjoys scoring goals and having a bit more of an impact on the game, but she is always willing to play where needed. Much preparation went into getting Elon to where she is today: an athletic scholarship recipient. On top of practicing and playing on high level club teams, she constantly honed her skills while at home by using the rebounder in the backyard, dribbling around the house, and practicing with her siblings. Elon described a couple life lessons that soccer has taught her over the years:No matter how good you are, there will always be someone out there looking for your downfall.If you want something, you must work for it. Actions speak louder than words—let your play do the talking instead of running your mouth. Elon has been a student at GCA since the 2nd grade, so she had much to pull from when asked what she has enjoyed most about being a student here. She emphasized the flexibility that GCA offered, like being able to take a test at Starbucks. She also loved the community events where she was able to socialize, meet new people, and make new friends! Even though she has loved being a GCA Champion, she looks forward to going to JSU. She is looking forward to the new environment and also exploring a new city including learning the different culture of the place. She is also excited about playing at the collegiate level as well as the challenge and growth that will come from that level of competition. With excitement also comes nervousness, like wondering how she will balance a college workload while playing college soccer. Elon plans to major in marketing while minoring in psychology. She wanted to give shoutouts to her mom (GCA Community Events Coordinator, Monique Sheffield), GCA faculty and staff, and friends. We can’t wait to see Elon on the pitch at JSU! What an incredible accomplishment earning a scholarship to play collegiate soccer! Go get some hat tricks, Elon, and stay hootworthy!

We loved having our latest hootworthy 5th grade Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) Champion on the show, Jack! He created his own YouTube channel, Jumping Jack Productions, where he makes fun videos featuring toy photography or educational videos teaching science and social studies topics. One of the main goals of his YouTube Channel is to inspire others. He came up with the name of his channel one day playing hula-hoop with his brothers. They imagined themselves jumping through the hula-hoop to another dimension, so the logo and name was born.  Toy photography isn’t the type of hobby one hears often, but it is about as straightforward as it sounds. Jack takes photos of his toys, but not regular photos. He tries to create scenes that are as realistic as possible using special effects, cameras, and photoshop. Some of the special effects include fireworks and fog in a can, or even a plunger to kick up dirt, dust, or ice. His latest project showcased a scene with ice hockey toys. His YouTube channel also features educational videos with the motto “kids teaching kids” where he covers science topics like physical change and chemical change or social studies content such as the Berlin Wall. Some of these videos are GCA assignments that he turns into video projects. Many of these projects involve collaboration with his dad, who helps him with some of the editing, filming, and special effects, with Jack doing most of the writing and acting. Some of the lessons Jack has learned through creating and operating his YouTube channel include valuable skills like filming, acting, photography, photo/film editing, and writing, along with how to teach and encourage others. One of the things he enjoys about being a student at GCA is how he finds time throughout the school day to accomplish most of his work, so he has more time after school to work on his hobbies. He loves schedule and flexibility at GCA which allows him to spend more time pursuing his hobby of creating educational and fun video content. He is open to the possibility of a career in media, but is enjoying his time with the YouTube channel as long as he can and the opportunities that come from it. He wants to shout out GCA, his teachers, friends, mom and dad, and his entire family. Be sure to check out Jack’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jumpingjackproductions and the excellent content! Stay hootworthy, Jack!

We love interviewing our incredible students at Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) and showcasing them on our podcast: Hootworthy. Karen, a 10th grader at GCA, sat down and discussed her hobby that turned into a surprisingly successful business.  In 2020, Karen created her own business, 2UNIQ Collection, where she makes and sells products such as key chains, wristlets, pens, and lanyards. She started with key chains and most recently added lanyards. Her best-selling product is the wristlet. Not many students start a business, so we discussed Karen’s“Why?”. Karen shared that she noticed how her mom always seemed to be losingher keys. She began making key chains, and then the wristlet idea came next.Her business solved a real problem—offered a solution to losing your keys—whatmany successful businesses do. Karen has always been somewhat a creativeperson, but she decided to take it to another level with the business. She acquired her startup funding from her parents, which took sixmonths of convincing after making a business plan, but she has paid the loanback and then some! She has been very surprised at how popular and successfulher business has become. She didn’t expect so many people to buy her products.She has learned many different things from running her business, but a keytakeaway has been money management. For example, she must balance spendingmoney on materials to then make products for sale. Despite the success of her business, Karen would like toultimately become a real estate broker after high school. She loves theexperience and lessons she is learning from managing her own business, and howit will apply to her future career in real estate. She enjoys the flexibilityGCA offers for her to do school and work on her business on the side during breaksor after school work. She has found her teachers always willing to help and herclassmates to be very nice.We encourage everyone to check out Karen’s products! They can findthem at the website https://uniqcollectionllc.myshopify.com/. Karen ended with shouting out her mom, dad, supporters, Mrs.McCarthy for recommending her to be on the show, and the Hootworthy team. StayHootworthy, Karen!