As a public school teacher for over a decade, Jillian Layman and her four children were well-versed in the public school system. However, it was not until August 2018, when her middle son, an incoming freshman, Oliver, expressed his desire to enroll at iSchool Virtual Academy (iSVA), that the family’s educational journey took a significantly positive turn.
Initially, Oliver’s decision to opt for virtual schooling prompted Jillian to leave her teaching job to support him at home, one she was happy to make as it would allow her more time to spend with her husband and children. Little did she know that this decision would not only reshape her children’s education but lead her back into the classroom.
iSchool Virtual Academy Teacher Jillian Layman
Over the next few months, her three remaining children, then high school junior Alfred, eighth-grader Charlotte, and fifth-grader Theodore witnessed first-hand their brother’s success in the classroom and expressed their interest in the unique curriculum. Drawn by its flexibility, Alfred and Theodore quickly followed in their brother’s footsteps, with Charlotte enrolling in 2020.
“Seeing how iSVA worked from a teacher’s perspective, I was highly impressed. As a parent, I appreciated the transparency, the communication, the caring attitudes, and the flexibility,” said Jillian. “I never planned to return to work, but I fell in love with this school and desperately wanted to be a part of it.”
After discussions with her family and faculty at the online campus, Jillian applied to become a Success Coach in 2020, encouraging and guiding students through their academic journeys. During this time, she returned to school to pursue high school teaching and transitioned back to the (online) classroom to teach government at iSVA.
“Beyond academic accomplishments, our family’s journey with iSchool Virtual Academy has instilled invaluable life skills in our children and has truly set them up for success in the future,” Jillian said.
Each of the Layman children saw academic success and personal growth during their time at iSVA. Through the school’s unique ability to work independently, Oliver and Charlotte excelled in their coursework and graduated early.
After graduating in June 2020, Alfred began as a Detention Officer in the Montgomery County Jail, following in his father’s footsteps in law enforcement. Oliver graduated in January 2022 and started his career as a Pharmacy Tech at Walgreens. Charlotte graduated in June 2023 and is a freshman at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, majoring in psychology with plans for her Master’s in Counseling.
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iSchool Virtual Academy is a fully accredited, tuition-free online public school for students in Texas. To learn more about iSchool Virtual Academy and how they are preparing students for higher education and future careers or to apply, visit ischoolvirtual.com.
