From student to Learning Coach: A family’s HTA journey
HTA has a unique way of shaping the lives of every student who walks through our doors. Now that legacy of growth stretches across generations.
More than a decade ago, Chloe Leano transferred to HTA as a 9th grader, escaping a large public school where bullying had taken a toll on her mental health. Her parents had hoped she’d stick it out, but Chloe was determined to research alternatives herself. When she discovered HTA, she begged her stepmom to help her enroll.
“When I got there, the experience was truly mind-blowing,” she says.
A CULTURE OF CARE
For Chloe, the difference was palpable. HTA was flexible, supportive, and — most importantly — she says she felt genuinely cared for. After her previous schooling experience, just showing up to school was a challenge and she vividly remembers her conversations with a counselor discussing how the school could better support her attendance.
“I felt like they actually cared about me,” she says.
Although a move back to the Philippines cut short her time at HTA, the school made a lasting impression.
“I kept HTA in my heart and promised myself that if I ever had a child, they would go there,” she says.
THE NEXT GEN
Years later, that promise became reality when Chloe moved back to Hawai‘i and enrolled her daughter, Zoe, at our ‘Ewa Beach campus.
Kindergarten was Zoe’s first school experience, and the transition wasn’t easy. But as she watched Zoe settle in and her confidence grow, Chloe recognized the very same warmth she had experienced at HTA years ago now being extended to her daughter.
“Zoe’s two teachers Ms. Hawkins and Ms. Yoshi are so nice,” she says. “Somehow, they find a way to give every student undivided attention. The curriculum, too, is so advanced. I truly did not expect Zoe to be able to read actual books so quickly. Ever since she was little, I would read her bedtime stories, and now she reads me stories. Even her language has matured. She tells me, ‘Mom, we take turns — today it’s my turn, tomorrow it’s your turn.’”
STRUCTURE AND INDEPENDENCE
Today, HTA’s blended model fits naturally into their daily lives.
“I work from home, so I love that I get to spend quality time with her while she’s learning,” Chloe says.
At just five years old, Zoe takes her virtual classes from her desk on her own.
“I can’t believe how responsible she’s learned to be,” Chloe says. “When HTA says they do school differently, they really mean it. Their approach truly fits the world we live in today.”
Reflecting on her journey from student to Learning Coach, Chloe adds, “As a parent, I have to find the best second home for my child. I just can’t believe it’s free.”
