Welcome to this special series on the thinktanK12 blog, where you can meet students, parents, and educators who are discovering the power of learning with K12.
Gigi LeMaire is a very talented—and very busy—teenager. For over two years, she’s been one of the stars of the hit TV show “The Wannabes.” And since she was seven years old, she’s been a member of teen pop group Savvy. Starting last February, Gigi has also been enrolled in online private schooling via K12 International Academy. This month, she graduated to ninth grade.
Prior to K12, Gigi’s family tried other approaches to balancing her education and budding career, including traditional public school as well as homeschooling through a regional university program. We recently spoke with Gigi and her mother Christine—who founded and manages Savvy—about why they changed to K12, and how their first year has been going.
Whenever I talk to people about online education, I usually start off by explaining that there is no such thing as a typical student or one common reason families choose it as their educational solution. The reasons families choose online education is as varied as there are days in a year, which is why I share so many of our 
I love sharing stories of our Amazing K12 Kids! Meet Asante...
For 6 years in a row, we have held an art competition to showcase the breadth of creative talent flowing through our student community. This art competition is something I look forward to every year because it really showcases what students can do when given a broad theme to pull from.
Welcome to this special series on the thinktanK12 blog, where you can meet students, parents, and educators who are discovering the power of learning with K12.
Have you ever met someone who just seemed to be born with a purpose? California Virtual Academy student, Michael K. fits that description perfectly. As far back as she could remember, Michael's mother says he has had a passion for learning about Asian culture and it has been his ultimate dream to have a chance to live and study in Japan. That dream is about to come true!
Student Dallas D. was selected as one of twenty youth from across the nation to go to the White House and meet President Obama as one of the winners of the White House Native American Youth Challenge! Dallas submitted an essay about her work with the development of the natural medicines garden at the Tulalip Hibulb museum and helped to teach tribal youth about traditional plants and foods. She also was inspired to start a Youth Gardeners Club to help inspire other kids to garden together with their families. 
You may recognize this California Virtual Academy high school student from the X Factor, a national singing competition to win a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music. Rachel is currently in the Top 10 and a crowd favorite. During one of her recent show performances, judge Simon Cowell compared her to one of this generation's most popular artists - Beyonce! Not too shabby for someone who is only 13 years old. I can't even imagine what's in store for her in the year's to come! 
Here is a recent article that offers some great advice to help Online High School students get the most out of their online experience, but I think many of these tips can be applied to the online experience of most students and families, regardless of grade. 
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