Seventeen-year-old Bria Schreiber is a unique student of sorts.

Taking six classes a semester in her junior year of high school, Schreiber at first seems like any other traditional high school student.

She likes to shop, hang out with her friends and go for walks in the summer.

The difference with Schreiber, however, is that when most traditional high school students are in class at school, she is at home on the computer.

A student of an online public high school — the Insight School of Minnesota — Schreiber completes school work for about 30 hours a week and then works for about 50.

Schreiber, who has lived in Albert Lea for most of her life, said she started Insight School in fall 2010, at the beginning of her junior school year.

Her sister had been looking into the school and she got interested.

“I like to do things more independently,” Schreiber said. “You can do things on your own.”

She noted she is allowed to complete her schoolwork any time of the day — as long as it gets done and her grades are kept up.

Her classes have textbooks and assignments just like any traditional school; the difference is those are all online.

Each class also has a live session every week, where students get to interact with the teacher and other students. And for each class, students get a target grade and a quality grade.

A self-motivated teenager, Schreiber said she is always a week ahead on homework. She loves the freedom to go ahead on assignments and to complete work at a faster pace.

If she needs help, she goes about it similarly to as if she were in a traditional school. She goes to a teacher during his or her office hours, asking for assistance.

She also has an adviser who tries to call once a week and a counselor she works with as needed.

She travels up to the Twin Cities to complete the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments.

“One of the big pluses is that I could do this and get more hours at work,” she said.

She tries to keep organized and has a planner with all of her assignments written out. As she completes them, she marks them off her planner.

When most students are tied up during the school day to attend school, she is able to get a job during those hours.

With most of her friends being older, Schreiber said she doesn’t miss the interaction that would take place in a traditional school. She still gets together with friends after school.

Though she doesn’t get to take classes such as cooking or wood tech — the hands-on ones — she noted she likes the variety in classes to choose from.

And for the first time in a while, she’s getting all A’s in English and history, which she said she is proud of.

Schreiber said she is one of 450 students at Insight School of Minnesota, ranging from ninth grade through 12th grade.

The school is based out of Brooklyn Center.

Bria Schreiber
Age: 17
Residence: Albert Lea
Family: mom, Nicole; dad, Jason; five brothers and sisters, Ben, 23, Blair, 19, Brody, 13, Bryce, 10, Beau, 6
Livelihood: student at online school for 30 hours a week; works at least 50 hours a week at Quiznos and Plaza Landscaping & Garden in Albert Lea.
Interesting fact: Schreiber loves to bake cookies and cupcakes.