WELCOME TO A.B. GRAHAM ACADEMY and GRAHAM DIGITAL ACADEMY

Thankful for the futuristic thinking of our former superintendent, James A. Zerkle,
Graham Local Schools have embraced virtual education and offered CHOICE to our
students. Graham Digital Academy (GDA) and A.B. Graham Academy (ABGA) are charter
conversion schools under the direct auspices of the Graham Local Schools. In 2000
eighty families had left public education in our district to "home school". There was
concern! It was the vision of our academic team to create an option for families with
virtual schooling. CHOICE was the key word!

GDA is a charter conversion eSchool in the state of Ohio. We serve students in Graham
Local School district who are interested in virtual (online) schooling and "family school"
with very little usage of inhouse teachers. Most of our GDA students work from home
and do not desire the assistance of our teachers/staff.

ABGA, official in July 2009, is a state chartered conversion school that serves
students via a virtual curriculum and a "family school" component, offering Highly
Qualified Teachers within the school lab/classroom and within the computer. Family
School members work from home with their parents. They are provided an Academic
Advisor, curriculum coordinator, and the opportunity to participate in all enrichment
activities provided by the charter conversion school as well as athletic/arts/academic
participation in GLS. Virtual ABGA students are provided HQTs within the classroom
and the computer. We are redesigning education with a hybrid program, personalized to
meet the individual needs of all students.

Our mission is restorative and nurturing. Our record speaks for itself. Graduation
and attendance rates are exemplary! We have a transcendent mission, embracing the
believability of all students, unwrapping their gifts and uplifting them daily.

In 1957 six Champaign County schools agreed to consolidate. It was a redesign of rural
education as most families knew it. The Department of Education in the state of Ohio
gave small rural schools no choice! Consolidate or close! The local Boards of Education
for St. Paris, Westville, Terre Haute, Concord, Rosewood, and Christiansburg eventually
agreed to join academic forces. The resulting school district, Graham Local Schools,
became the center of the west end of Champaign County.

The name Graham was selected as the new school name. A.B. Graham (Albert Belmont
Graham) was the founder of the Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs located in Clark
County. Later the club was renamed 4-H Clubs of America. The first club had 85
farm boys and girls involved. Their pledge incorporated the four H's -Head, Heart,
Hands, and Health. A.B. Graham was serving as the Superintendent of the Agricultural
Extension at Ohio State University at the time. He formulated the club on July 2,
1905 to elevate the standard of living in rural communities. He wanted to emphasize
the importance of hard work and building a strong character, to encourage students
to investigate their environment, to cultivate a taste for the beauty in nature, and to
inspire young men and women to further their education and to become lifelong learners.

Our Family School program has tripled in student numbers this past number. We are
serving over 60 young persons who have "family teachers" involved in the academic
process called "school" as well as an Academic Advisor who monitors and assesses. Most
students work from home but have the use of a Family School Library at ABGA. This
room is open for family and students daily.

All students are welcome to participate in a myriad of enrichment opportunities
offered by our school. Amongst these vital components are Jr. Great Books, Drama Club,
Dance Troupe, Spanish language class, Manatee Snorkel Float in Citrus County, Florida,
Writer's Workshop, STEM experiments, Art Enrichment, Write it Right, Science
Enrichment, annual Family Picnic, Civic Projects, Student Compass, family bowling, Walk
with Purpose, OAT/OGT Prep Sessions, online courses for Graham High School students
(Singletons), and more. Our mission is to raise the bar in academic excellence and in
character development as well.

Our school believes in the 10 Common Principles of the Coalition of Essential Schools.
We adhere to a tone of decency and trust for all students. Our Intervention program
is highly successful. With the synergy on Learning, many of our new students who have
been struggling academically, find they are superior students! They love the engagement
offered in a virtual program. A "change agent" in our county and surrounding area, we
are quickly becoming a school of choice. We believe in honoring each student and their
unique gifts. Striving to create life-long learners, our teachers agree to work with the
student the entire day. They share lunch with students and exercise their right to a
prep period after the students have exited the building.

Legal in the state of Ohio in March of 2003 with 25 students, our charter conversion
schools have become "choice charters" for over 300 students. Enrollment in ABGA/GDA
incorporates a personal interview with student/family prior to enrollment application
review. We are located in seven classrooms that now comprise ABGA in the Graham
Board of Education offices (St. Paris High School/Graham Jr. High) at 370 E. Main
Street, St. Paris, Ohio 43072.

No question is too small. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding our unique
program. We are here to serve. As A.B. Graham said long ago, ''A skill well learned lasts
a life time. "Parent driven and restorative in nature, ABGA like GDA has created an
educational environment where the synergy is on learning, where teachers are culturally
responsive to each student, and where "family" schools embrace personalization of each
and every educational plan...for each and every precious student.