Helping Kids Thrive: How Virtual School Opened Doors for Quinn and His Siblings 

With 12 children, former educator Kerrylynn has seen just how different every learner can be. From speech challenges and dyslexia to mental health struggles and career exploration, each of her kids has followed a unique path. For her kids Toddianna and Kieran, that path led to Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA); for Kristopher, Quinn, and now Kimberly it was Destinations Career Academy (DCAWI). Those schools offered the support, flexibility, and encouragement they all needed to thrive. 

Most of Kerrylynn’s kids have been homeschooled until high school. Quinn, Kerrylynn’s fifth child, was the first to enroll in virtual school at a younger age. He had a speech disorder that made it difficult for others to understand him. “No matter what I did, he just couldn’t get it,” Kerrylynn recalled. “I tried getting help through our district, but they weren’t able to support us because we were homeschooling.” 

Through an online program, Quinn finally received the speech therapy he needed. That early success opened the door to a high school experience at DCAWI where he truly began to flourish. He became active in student leadership, reading to kindergarteners and holding officer roles in multiple clubs. He also began exploring his long-standing interest in massage therapy through DCAWI’s health science pathway. “They have those pathways, which I think is great,” Kerrylynn said. “It gives them a chance to try something and say, ‘Yeah, I think I like this,’ or ‘Nope, not for me.’ That’s what high school should be about.” 

Quinn wasn’t Kerrylynn’s only child to find success in virtual school. His older brother Kristopher was once failing nearly every class and struggling with depression. When he switched to DCAWI mid-year, he received targeted support for dyslexia and a slower academic pace that helped him regain his footing. “He got straight A’s,” Kerrylynn said. “He was on the National Honor Society. I never expected that.” 

What stood out to Kerrylynn was how DCAWI and WIVA treated her kids as individuals. “They have to have teachers that understand everybody learns differently,” she said. “And that is a challenge, but DCAWI really got it right for my kids.” 

Even for students who start with academic struggles or uncertainty about the future, DCAWI has created opportunities for success. “It helps you explore what you might be when you grow up,” Kerrylynn said. “You get to really dive deep into those possibilities which is so important.” 

For Kerrylynn’s kids, virtual school hasn’t just filled a gap—it’s built a foundation. “All of them have excelled so much at DCAWI,” she said. “It changed their lives.” 

Want to see what DCAWI can do for your child? Explore career-focused learning, personalized support, and a flexible path to success at DCAWI today.