GP Junior (Nov-Dec 19) Cover- GPJ | Page 14

Feature FOCUS ON THE FUTURE elcome to US Performance Academy (USPA), an online school for high performance athletes, and a solution for every child and family looking for a Tier I U.S. middle and high diploma. UPSA is designed for young athletes who need a school that supports their unique schedule, creates a pathway toward their personal, professional and athletic goals and leverages the latest technology for an on-the-go environment. USPA athletes are headed to college on a sport/ academic scholarship or to the professional ranks of their sport. They include golfers, tennis players, hockey players, football players, kayakers, skaters, cricketers, and even motor sports competitors. Designed by athletes and educators, the approach specifi cally benefi ts driven students who are training, traveling, competing and pushing to the next level. The online curriculum allows for a fl exible school schedule and academic calendar. The support system keeps students involved, motivated, and on track to success. And the focus on the student-athlete’s future goals and aspirations opens up a doorway to future opportunities. “U.S. Performance Academy was created with families like yours in mind. I learned fi rst-hand during my Olympic campaign about the time and commitment a student-athlete needs to dedicate to their sport in order to succeed. Those experiences, combined with my time at Columbia University, and my time running more traditional schools allowed me to understand that handing a child a pile of worksheets and labeling them as “supportive” just isn’t good enough. That isn’t truly learning. Learning doesn’t need to be dictated by where you are in the world. You don’t need to be in a classroom, sitting in rows of desks. It can be so much better, and it needs to be so much better. That’s why we built USPA. We truly understand your schedule, your priorities, your unique goals, and your struggles facing academics. We offer solutions, not more roadblocks. We have created a community, a fl exible school schedule, and a support system unlike any other.” – Pete Smith, USPA Founder and President. 14 GolfPlus Junior November-December 2019 The number of hours my daughter spends training and then studying is leaving her worn out and unable to enjoy just being a child. I see the piles of homework and stacks of books my son has to take with him when he travels for a competition. I feel like he’s just checking the boxes and not really learning anything. Our school isn’t flexible with absences or due dates. We are celebrating his success, but his teachers just seem frustrated. Our experience with online schools in the past has been so impersonal. Logging in, calling an 800 number, and waiting days for answers to our questions… we didn’t feel like a part of a community.