{"id":3278,"date":"2018-11-07T21:15:23","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T21:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resedblog.wpengine.com\/?p=3278"},"modified":"2021-03-29T00:56:54","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T00:56:54","slug":"grace-dodd-plays-a-perfect-match-finding-the-right-school-to-accommodate-her-aspiring-tennis-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/responsiveed.com\/responsiveed-blog\/2018\/11\/07\/grace-dodd-plays-a-perfect-match-finding-the-right-school-to-accommodate-her-aspiring-tennis-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Grace Dodd Plays a Perfect Match: Finding the Right School to Accommodate Her Aspiring Tennis Career"},"content":{"rendered":"

This spring, senior Grace Dodd will finish her grade-school years at <\/span>The STEM Academy of Lewisville<\/span><\/a> and begin college and a promising tennis career at Sacramento State in the fall. \u00a0A dream she\u2019s had for quite some time, but one that looked difficult to reach before she chose to attend a <\/span>ResponsiveEd<\/span><\/a> school in sixth grade.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following in her mother\u2019s footsteps and picking up a racquet at age 10, tennis quickly became Grace\u2019s passion and took up much of her time amongst lessons, conditioning training, and plenty of traveling to high-level tournaments across the state. The hectic schedule made it nearly impossible to sit in a traditional classroom all week for close to eight hours a day, stay up late every night after workouts doing homework, and have any semblance of a social life beyond school and tennis.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"In sixth-grade, she made the switch from a traditional public school to iSchool High of Lewisville, a ResponsiveEd school. \u201cWe came here originally for the flexible schedule that could give her the balance of both worlds as far as being a competitive athlete and having a life, while still being in the classroom,\u201d says Grace\u2019s mother Andrea Dodd.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe found out in second-grade, that she has dyslexia. \u00a0Because of this, she has to learn differently and has become very analytical,\u201d adds Andrea. \u00a0\u201cI wanted her to stay in a classroom because of her condition and there was no way I could homeschool her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI knew I needed to make a change because I can\u2019t be late to practice every day and then have to leave early because of school and homework,\u201d remembers Grace. \u00a0\u201cOne of my friends went to iSchool High and told me to come check it out. So I went and that day I told my mom, \u2018I love it and I\u2019m going to go there.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis school has been phenomenal. They\u2019ve helped her so much in her writing, how to think outside the box, and just express herself,\u201d notices Andrea. \u201cAs parents, we have been so pleased and we tell everybody about this school as much as we can.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor my situation it was great, but it\u2019s also great for kids who specialize in things like engineering or those who take dual-credit courses that count toward college. It has enabled some of my friends to get their associate\u2019s degree without having to pay for it,\u201d says Grace. \u201cThe school is so much smaller and everyone\u2019s so much more personable. You are not \u2018X\u2019 student or \u2018Y\u2019 student, all of the teachers here know you and call you by name and have a genuine interest in your life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One of those teachers is <\/span>Andres Cordova<\/span><\/a>, the Spanish teacher at The STEM Academy of Lewisville, the new iSchool High that Grace transferred to when it opened in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a role model and a leader,\u201d says Cordova. \u201cI notice that people gravitate toward her. She makes a difference in her teachers\u2019 lives and also in her peers. Whenever she\u2019s around, the other students carry themselves differently. She\u2019s a great influence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had the opportunity to talk to other student-athletes here about managing their time better. You can\u2019t just goof off and watch Netflix for three hours every night,\u201d advises Grace. \u201cYou have to schedule your time well around schoolwork, practice and the gym.\u201d<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n

The dedication has paid off and her leadership qualities were on display last year when Grace went to California for a college tennis showcase. \u00a0There, she caught the eye of coaches at Sacramento State who, in September, offered her a full scholarship to play tennis for the next four years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think the coaches know what they are getting yet,\u201d Cordova exclaims. \u201cThis is a special kid. I think she will be a leader on the team in her first year even amongst the veterans. She will make that much of an impact immediately, there is no doubt in my mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think she\u2019s going to be great in school. She\u2019s ready,\u201d says Andrea, who has seen the progress made in the last seven years and knows how dedicated her daughter will be in college and with her new team. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many skills that she learns from playing tennis,\u201d notes Andrea. \u201cIt teaches her integrity, problem-solving, and self-confidence, but what she got from going to school here is the ability to have a social life in addition to her schoolwork and tennis. I think the teachers here truly care about the kids and what\u2019s going on in their lives and that has made all the difference.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n