Building Student Community with Michelle Gilyard: Clubs and Competitions in a Virtual School

School is about more than academics. It’s also about connection, belonging, and opportunities to grow outside the classroom.In this episode of GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, we’re joined by Michelle Gilyard, Family School Partnership Coordinator for Leadership and Service at Georgia Cyber Academy. Michelle shares how clubs and competitions create meaningful opportunities for students to connect, lead, and build community in a fully virtual environment.The conversation explores how students get involved in clubs, what participation looks like online, and how competitions bring energy and engagement across a statewide student body. Michelle also reflects on the impact these experiences have on student confidence, leadership development, and social connection.This episode is part of GCA Unmuted’s ongoing documentation of how virtual schools create a complete student experience—both inside and outside the classroom.Thanks for listening to GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education, a podcast documenting how virtual school works in practice at Georgia Cyber Academy.Each episode features educators, staff, and leaders sharing real stories and systems that support teaching and learning in a virtual environment.Learn more about the podcast and explore past episodes at: https://www.georgiacyber.org/about/unmutedYou can also watch full episodes and highlights on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GCAchampions