Carter Bradford

Do online teachers really impact student lives? The COVID-19 virus has thrust students into online learning in record numbers. Disoriented by the lack of structure many schools were able to provide for remote instructional models in the spring of 2020, parents and students were looking for something more in full-time virtual options for the fall.

“We were all nervous to start something new and at first didn’t exactly understand all of the expectations,” says Christa Bradford, parent to Sequatchie County High School junior, Carter Bradford.  “Learning to communicate with teachers in a virtual environment was something new to figure out and we worried it wouldn’t be as effective as in-person communication.  But we found that constructive critiques and positive reassuring feedback from teachers really helped with our son’s reading was a great aid to his success.”

Carter came to our attention when he sent this message to his online English teacher, Richard Daugherty:

“This is Carter Bradford from your English class and this has nothing to do with school, but I have felt like I have grown close to you through virtual. Anyways, while before and after I do school on the computer, I always run 5-6 miles each day and I’m a part of my school’s cross-country team and today I was blessed to get to qualify for our state championship. I am very happy to share with you that I placed 5th today in the Division I Small School Championship which makes me All-State this year. It is kind of random to email you this, but you have been a big influence in my life when it comes to confidence in the classroom and when I asked my mom if I should share this news with you, she thought it was a great idea.

Every morning or evening when I’ve had a bad workout or a bad run, I would then open my computer up and I would have encouraging words placed in my graded assignments and they would be from you and every time they put a smile on my face and kept me going. I have never been confident in my previous English classes and this year has been very uplifting and encouraging. So I just felt like I should share this news with you, and I hope you have a great rest of the evening. Thank you for everything.” 

Carter brings a lot of discipline to his approach to virtual learning, setting aside four specific hours each day to work (11 AM to 3 PM) and creating personal goals that he writes on sticky notes and checks off as they are met.

“I can really structure my day around my schedule. It makes it easy to get in extra practice with the team or have a social life. When you’re done for the day, you’re done for the day, says Carter. “When I’m done with my work, I’m not waiting around on other students to finish theirs. I can go at my own pace and not feel like I’m wasting my time,” says Carter. He notes that the constructive critiques, positive feedback and the ability to retry assignments have been particularly helpful to him.

Mrs. Bradford says that Carter likes “knowing that it is up to him” and feels like the greater accountability for students in the online environment has helped Carter mature as a person, not just master course content. She concludes with good advice for any parent considering online learning for their children:

“Be clear about your parental expectations from day one. We’re both educators, so I’ve seen countless times the parents blame the school system but were never clear to their child about expectations for them from the beginning. Make clear boundaries and expectations and emphasize how important they are. Make sure they know what is expected of them.”

Congratulations, Carter, on making All-State for the Sequatchie County Cross-Country Team and much success as you complete your junior year online!