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The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) celebrates individuality and empowers students to pursue their passions and academic goals. The online public school serves more than 11,000 students in grades K-12 from every county in the state. Student experiences can be customized because of the flexible, virtual environment. Explore the unique stories of individuals at PA Cyber, where students and staff share their educational journeys.
Ayden Gerlach
Current Student from Slippery Rock
What led you to enroll at PA Cyber?
I compete in cheerleading and travel a lot for competitions. After trying two other cyber charter schools, PA Cyber worked best for me. I can work ahead on assignments. I can focus on attending cheer practice and competitions without missing school or being behind on homework.
What’s your favorite subject in school?
History. I like learning about the past and different events that have shaped the world today.
What are your interests outside of school?
My competitive cheer team, Top Gun, won the USASF Worlds competition again this year. My team won our division Senior Large Coed, plus we had the highest score out of 563 teams from 21 countries. This is my second world champion win. I will be back on the team again this year for my third year. I’ll spend most of the summer in Miami with a host family and then travel back and forth to Miami during the school year for practices and competitions.
What are your goals for after graduation?
I want to become an Athletic Trainer and also coach tumbling at Top Gun Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township. I currently work there doing private lessons and classes when I am home from Miami.
Karissa Hawk
Alumna in Melbourne, Florida
What have you been doing since graduating from PA Cyber in 2023?
I am in college to earn a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering. I have helped design and build rockets and received my L1 certification in launching rockets. I am a part of the AIAA club [American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics] at Florida Tech. This year I attended the conference at the Kennedy Space Center and presented research on AI. I am so excited to see what the next school year brings.
How did PA Cyber prepare you for this path?
PA Cyber has many great teachers and staff who have helped me believe my goals were possible. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for them. I was in many clubs at PA Cyber, which made me realize what I was interested in.
What advice would you give to current cyber students?
Get involved in as many things as possible and find out what you’re interested in. It’s very easy to get in a slump while doing cyber school, but PA Cyber does a good job of having fun clubs and many events. Staff will help you, and they want you to succeed.
Matthew Abel
Teacher in Pittsburgh
What led you to PA Cyber?
I started teaching calculus face-to-face about 30 years ago, and about 10 years later I worked for a major online education software company. Then amazingly, PA Cyber chose me to be a teacher. I’ve been teaching here for about seven years, and it’s been wonderful. The students have made me the best teacher I can be. In fact, I was just nominated for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year because of them.
Why is school choice important?
School choice is very important to meeting the ever-changing complexities of life. Everybody, including me, has a life that keeps changing, and being able to choose the best educational fit for their lives is important for every student and every family. PA Cyber offers the flexibility and valuable educational opportunity that many students need.
What is your favorite part about being an educator?
Connecting with students and being able to directly meet their educational needs individually. My students tell me, years after I’ve had them in class, that they appreciate what I’ve done for them. And I greatly appreciate what they’ve done for me. It’s fantastic to hear that I’ve helped them believe in themselves with a growth mindset and achieve their potential.
Jane Camp
Activity Leader in Midland
Describe your role as Supervisor of Student Events.
Since 2004, I have helped students and their families connect within the PA Cyber community. I oversee the Family Link program, which creates learning experiences outside the classroom through field trips and in-person meet-ups. I also help manage our club program, which allows students to meet peers who share similar interests. When students connect, they build a sense of community, pride in their school, and grow as individuals.
What benefits do you see in allowing students to choose their school experience?
Increased engagement and motivation, personalized learning, a stronger sense of belonging and community, and preparation for real-world challenges are a few of the benefits that I observe daily.
What is your favorite part about being an activity leader?
I strive to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere and encourage participants to interact with each other. Seeing friendships form and students reunite with their friends on field trips is such a rewarding aspect of my job. I also get to witness their learning and growth.
Discover if PA Cyber is a perfect fit for your child by joining a live information session at pacyber.org/session.
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