School is about more than academics. It’s also about connection, belonging, and opportunities to grow outside the classroom.

In this episode of GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, we’re joined by Michelle Gilyard, Family School Partnership Coordinator for Leadership and Service at Georgia Cyber Academy. Michelle shares how clubs and competitions create meaningful opportunities for students to connect, lead, and build community in a fully virtual environment.

The conversation explores how students get involved in clubs, what participation looks like online, and how competitions bring energy and engagement across a statewide student body. Michelle also reflects on the impact these experiences have on student confidence, leadership development, and social connection.

This episode is part of GCA Unmuted’s ongoing documentation of how virtual schools create a complete student experience—both inside and outside the classroom.

Thanks for listening to GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, a podcast documenting how virtual school works in practice at Georgia Cyber Academy.

Each episode features educators, staff, and leaders sharing real stories and systems that support teaching and learning in a virtual environment.

Learn more about the podcast and explore past episodes at:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/about/unmuted

You can also watch full episodes and highlights on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@GCAchampions

Strong family partnerships are essential in any school. In a virtual environment, they are foundational. Clear communication, trust, and consistent support help families feel confident and connected, which directly impacts student success.

In this episode of GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, we’re joined by Shannon Ready, Family Engagement Liaison at Georgia Cyber Academy. Shannon shares how she works with families to build trust, strengthen communication, and support parents as active partners in their child’s education.

The conversation explores how families are supported when they are new to virtual learning, how difficult conversations are navigated with care, and how systems are designed to keep communication consistent across a large, online school. Shannon also reflects on common misconceptions about virtual schooling and what helps families feel confident in the model.

This episode is part of GCA Unmuted’s ongoing documentation of how virtual schools build strong partnerships between school and home.

Thanks for listening to GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, a podcast documenting how virtual school works in practice at Georgia Cyber Academy.

Each episode features educators, staff, and leaders sharing real stories and systems that support teaching and learning in a virtual environment.

Learn more about the podcast and explore past episodes at:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/about/unmuted

You can also watch full episodes and highlights on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@GCAchampions

Connecting learning to real-world experience helps students build confidence, develop practical skills, and clarify their future paths. Work-based learning creates opportunities for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real jobs and responsibilities while still in school.

In this episode of GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, we’re joined by Tricia McCoy and Erica Butts of Georgia Cyber Academy. They share how work-based learning operates in a virtual environment and how students gain meaningful, hands-on experience that prepares them for life after graduation.

The conversation explores how students access work-based learning opportunities, how coordinators support both students and employers, and how these experiences build skills, direction, and independence. Tricia and Erica also reflect on how virtual schooling can expand access to real-world learning and address common assumptions about whether hands-on experiences are possible in an online setting.

This episode is part of GCA Unmuted’s ongoing documentation of how virtual schools prepare students for college, careers, and life beyond high school.

Thanks for listening to GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, a podcast documenting how virtual school works in practice at Georgia Cyber Academy.

Each episode features educators, staff, and leaders sharing real stories and systems that support teaching and learning in a virtual environment.

Learn more about the podcast and explore past episodes at:
https://www.georgiacyber.org/about/unmuted

You can also watch full episodes and highlights on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@GCAchampions