Not long after she enrolled at Summit Academy Secondary School – Middletown, senior Cassie Riley says it began to feel like home.
“I have felt nothing but seen and heard,” describes Riley, who began attending Summit Academy at the start of her freshman year. After four years of homeschooling and a turbulent childhood, Riley says Summit Academy became a safe space, a place of nurturing at a time she needed it most.
Riley adds that the formal structure of school and an understanding staff willing and able to address her setbacks enabled her to not only acclimate to but to flourish at Summit Academy.
“The teachers were always very understanding, never judgmental,” she says. “They worked on things with me until I understood them. They were very helpful in ensuring we were on the same page before moving on.”
Riley quickly became part of the school’s fabric. She has worked as an office aide for the past three years and provides student support in the elementary classrooms. She coordinated the school’s career fair last year. In addition, Riley serves as a student greeter, giving tours to and connecting with visitors. She was voted as Miss Summit Academy Spirit by her schoolmates and staff members.
“She shows up with love and a smile on her face daily,” says Principal Kristen McClanahan-Parkes. “I cannot tell you how proud of her I am.”
Riley says she enjoys spreading that love, especially to her classmates. “It fills your cup to see the joy you get to bring to other students,” she says.
Riley extends herself to peers who may be embarrassed to approach a teacher to ask for extra help. She offers to accompany them during what might otherwise be an uncomfortable conversation. Her advocacy efforts have already poised her to return to Summit Academy – Middletown as a teacher one day.
Soon to be a first-generation college student, Riley is bound for Wittenberg University where she plans to study special education. “A lot of that stems from [Mrs. Parkes] and her care for me which has caused me to want to become a teacher,” she says of her principal, whom she affectionally calls ‘mom.’ “I’m excited to evolve into the teacher I want to be one day.”
“We joke that she is going to take my place when I retire. She fully wants to come back here and work when she graduates,” says McClanahan-Parkes.
No doubt, the school community will be cheering on Riley as she works toward her goal to become an educator. In the meantime, however, Riley says she will embrace every remaining moment of her student life at Summit Academy until she returns there in the future, as a teacher.
“This is my happy place,” she says. “I love this community.”