ATLANTA — Shadonna is one of the students at Carver STEAM’s special education program, called “Team Excel.” Purpose Built Schools Atlanta took over the operation of Carver High School in 2018, and at the time, Shadonna was 18 years old with only three completed credits to her name.
It was quite a hard time for her. Seeing the path forward to graduation was rather complicated. Her physical and intellectual disabilities made school even harder for her. Shadonna was stuck with the school system that neglected her needs and fellow students who bullied her for her disabilities.
That was until her mother found out about Purpose Built Schools and its new special education program. They immediately contacted the teachers and set the plan in motion for Shadonna.
Purpose Built Schools started partnering with APS in 2018. The program was renamed “Team Excel” to battle the stigma of special education and showcase the positive trajectory of the students.
Along with Shadonna and her mother, Team Excel and school counselor Gloria Hines created an intensive action plan for Shadonna to go from having merely three credits to finally achieving her high school diploma.
The team’s collaborative approach allowed them to understand Shadonna’s exact needs to study well. It is not to say that it was easy, there were many challenges they faced along the way, yet Shadonna thrived and stayed on the path to her success in earning her diploma.
After graduating, Shadonna plans to start her own local business and help people, especially children.
“I want to give back to my community. The best thing about Carver is the way everyone helped me,” said Shadonna.
Her story is an impactful reminder for everyone that even the longest and most challenging journey can have a happy ending if one has the right tools to weather the storm.