COLUMBIA, SC – On July 24th, 2026, the Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina was awarded a plaque commemorating their Trauma-Skilled School (TSS) Certification. This certification, earned through a partnership with the National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC), recognizes the school as being trained in trauma-management skills for assisting students in distress.
The Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina is the very first virtual school in the nation to receive this distinction.
David Crook, CEO of the Heron Institute said “We believe every student deserves a chance to start a new chapter. Being a Trauma-Skilled School means recognizing that our students’ experiences are part of their story, but they do not have to determine what comes next. This certification reflects what we want Heron to be: a school where students are known, supported, and given the opportunity to write a different ending.”
TSS utilizes a framework developed by the NDPC designed to adjust school cultures and empower student and staff resiliency. This is accomplished through trainings on foundational trauma knowledge, resiliency development, and conflict de-escalation. Each teacher at Heron Virtual Academy has completed these trainings and is prepared to support students in alignment with these best practices.
“As the nation’s first virtual school to earn Trauma Skilled Certification, Heron Virtual Academy is proving that trauma-responsive care isn’t limited by physical boundaries,” said Nancy Nielsen, Certification Specialist for NDPC. “Their educators have shown incredible dedication to building safe, supportive virtual spaces where students feel seen and understood regardless of where they learn. We are thrilled to recognize Heron for leading the way and setting a new standard for online learning across the country.”
Heron Virtual Academy is dedicated to bringing a quality education to the students of South Carolina, no matter who they are, where they live or what they have been through.
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Heron Virtual Academy of South Carolina is a tuition-free, online public school that is dedicated to helping high school students via personalized alternative pathways to graduation. It has four defining characteristics – a focus on personalized education through its virtual model, comprehensive career-readiness education offerings, a robust Social Emotional Learning component, and provision for student feedback and suggestions. To learn more about HVASC, visit their website: https://hvasc.k12.com/. The Heron Institute is authorized by the Charter Institute at Erskine.
