Tammy Mansell Named New REACH Academy Coordinator

Overton Schools’ REACH Academy has a new coordinator.

Tammy Mansell said that she’s been with the school system for 15 years. She said that REACH was her first introduction to the school system.

“And I just loved it,” Mansell said. “I loved everything that it’s about. And actually, since I’ve been in the school system I’ve always said that I loved all the schools that I’ve worked at, but if I could ever get (back) to REACH, that’s what I would love to do. And it worked out.”

Mansell said that took over the position from Danny McCoin who retired. She said that her duties range from acting as a counselor to checking on students and their progress.

Mansell said that the goal of REACH Academy is to help students graduate on time that might not be able to otherwise. She said that originally REACH was started to help students who had found themselves tied up in the justice system and needing up to get back on track. She said now, they service a wide variety of students.

“Generally speaking the students are behind in credits when they come here,” Mansell said. “So coming to REACH allows them to graduate on time with their cohort group. But not all students are behind, some just have life get in the way and they have circumstances that are out of their control. And so they’re referred here, maybe they’ve transferred from another school or they’ve had medical issues. We’re moving away from students who were tied up in the justice system and are serving a much bigger population now. “