Quest Kids Academy (QKA) is happy to report a successful first day! The QKA team worked diligently through the summer to prepare for this non-traditional school year and it paid off. Feedback from parents and teachers have been positive and the resiliency of QKA students is truly inspiring.
Safety First
As families across Florida transition into a new school year, the landscape is far from normal. Parents have valid questions about the safety of their children while balancing the demands of work life and the inherent urge to return to a pre-pandemic routine. Like Orange County Public Schools, QKA is offering distance education and in-person classes with strict safety protocols.
According to Rob Cage, Vice President of Education and Employment at Quest, Inc., parents and students are rising to the occasion and have been integral to a successful return. “It’s very tough being a parent right now. Parents are having to make difficult decisions in regards to their children’s education in a less than ideal environment. Our parents are very supportive and they’ve been great in helping us brainstorm ways to take on challenges during this time. The in-person students have exceeded our expectations on following protocols such as mask wearing, social distancing and following environment changes.”
Renee Thompson’s daughter attends classes at QKA virtually. “I have never felt like we were alone, which is huge to me,” she said recently. “Quest has continually communicated over the last five months or so. Quest, especially QKA Director Melissa Lopez, has always kept us informed of what was going on and how Quest was adjusting its services. Our daughter initially went to summer camp on campus, for a few weeks. I could tell Quest took COVID-19 very seriously because it created new safety procedures and followed its plan with fidelity.”
According to Cage, the preparation and communication has made the transition a success. “Through this first week of school, I couldn’t be prouder of our students and staff. The buildup of planning, facility prep, coordination, etc. was the hardest lift. Once school started, the Quest Kids Academy team returned to doing what they do best — dedicated, talented educators working with some of the brightest, most resilient students you could imagine to provide the best education possible.”
Adapting in a Time of a Change
Routine is key for students at QKA. For individuals with intellectual disabilities, particularly children with autism, any abrupt change to their schedule can be detrimental to their learning experience. This was a huge consideration when the QKA team was strategizing contingency plans during the outset of the pandemic.
“Our son, has definitely struggled since the COVID-19 shutdown started as he has a difficult time dealing with change and the loss of his regular routines,” said Prethi Maniam, whose son attends QKA. “Once we realized that school was unlikely to be back in person for the rest of the spring, I was worried he would lose the skills he had worked so hard on the past few months at school. Thankfully, QKA managed to put together a virtual program very quickly so the students could still continue pretty much where they left off before Spring Break. He still felt like he was in school even though he was at home.
“After the school year ended, we were given the opportunity to continue our son’s learning through the summer tutoring sessions at QKA. This way, he could avoid the summer learning loss that so many students experience. He also gained some extra skills, like making his lunch.”
Thompson’s daughter also participated in the QKA summer tutoring program, made possible through a grant by Universal Orlando Foundation. “Our daughter did tutoring sessions during the summer, mostly virtually. Those helped her continue a school routine throughout the summer. It helped shape her routine here at home, which helped us as a family. She had something to do and continued to connect with teachers. Tutoring actually not only helped her from regressing academically, but I think it helped her advance, especially in reading.”
Above and Beyond
Quest, Inc. has been providing a range of services for individuals with developmental disabilities in the Central Florida community for over 50 years. That track record has seen its fair share of hurricanes, funding fluctuations and a myriad of other circumstances that require innovation and the ability to adapt quickly. This nimbleness in service delivery has earned QKA praise from parents.
“My family is so thankful for Quest and how they have gone above and beyond in having a safe place for us to send our child during this very difficult time,” said Maniam. “They have been able to adapt to the changing circumstances and have also made it a priority to constantly sanitize the areas where the students will be, and working with them on proper hand washing and wearing masks.”
According to Thompson, “I think Quest and the people who work there are always going above and beyond — especially with COVID-19! I always tell people about how Quest and QKA has totally changed our lives for the better. QKA leadership and teachers are great with communication, and they genuinely listen to us and any concerns we have.”
The cooperation, communication and innovation of the QKA team, parents and students illustrates that the highest quality of education is possible even in a time fraught with uncertainty.