May 27, 2022 – Despite a lifelong struggle with visual impairment, the path to academic success has been extremely clear for Sandalwood High School soon-to-be graduate, Kai Edu.
Edu, who is one of approximately 7,600 graduates in Team Duval’s Class of 2022, has exceeded all expectations as a gifted learner and has been accepted into Florida Polytechnic University for this upcoming fall where he will study computer engineering.
Edu was born with a condition known as Bilateral Colobomas, resulting in his poor vision. However, that did not impede his academic success. He joined the district’s gifted program in elementary school and credits the instruction he received there with sparking his passion for learning.
He continued his journey at Springfield Middle School (then Kirby-Smith Middle) in the STEM magnet program and then enrolled in Sandalwood High’s dual enrollment program so that he could graduate high school with both a bachelor’s and associate degree.
Four years later, Edu has achieved his goal. He will be graduating on Friday, May 27 with his Associate of Arts degree.
As Edu reflects on his time with the district, he says that his success would not have been possible without the support of a vast network staff and educators as well as the variety of unique educational choices offered by the district.
They also credit the district’s Exceptional Education program, which supports students – and their families – who have diverse learning needs. Services the department provides include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Developmentally Delayed
- Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities
- Gifted
- Intellectual Disabilities
- Sign Language Interpreting
- Specific Learning Disabilities
- Speech/Language Impaired
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visually Impaired
Families can visit Exceptional Education and Student Services Department webpage to learn more about the program and determine whether their child is eligible to receive services.
Congratulations to Edu and all of our Class of 2022 graduates!
