Meet our Regional Director for AOS

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Welcome to Ascend Online School — where second chances turn into success stories.

As Regional Director, I am proud to lead a team of dedicated educators committed to helping students reclaim their academic path. At Ascend, we recognize that every student’s journey is unique. Some face challenges that temporarily knock them off course — and that’s where we step in.

Our mission is simple: to support students in grades 3 through 12 who have fallen behind and give them the tools, structure, and encouragement they need to get back on track. Whether it's rebuilding foundational skills in elementary school, recovering middle school courses, or earning high school credits through our rigorous online curriculum — we are here to help students rise.

What makes Ascend special is our hybrid learning model, which pairs students with both a face-to-face teacher and an online instructor. This dual support system ensures that students are never alone in their learning. Every student also takes a Study Skills course to strengthen their time management, organization, and academic habits — preparing them not just to recover, but to excel.

Enrollment in our program is not open to the public. Students are referred by their home school counselor and must meet eligibility criteria — including having previously failed the course they are looking to recover. 

With structured 120-hour course timelines, flexible pacing, and continuous teacher support, we are intentional about creating a program that delivers results.

At Ascend, we believe that setbacks do not define our students — how they respond to them does. Thank you for trusting us to be part of that comeback journey.

With commitment to every student’s success,

Duane McFadden
Regional Director
Ascend Online School