Band, Baton, and Big Roles: How Casey & Grace Allshouse Found Their Rhythm with PA Distance

In a small town outside Clarksburg, Pennsylvania, the sound of a drumline cuts through the air every fall Friday night. Somewhere near the front, you’ll find Casey Allshouse holding tempo. And just off to the side, baton in hand, is his younger sister Grace, moving with the music. What you might not see right away? They’re both cyber students.

Casey and Grace attend PA Distance Learning Charter School, a fully online public school that’s allowed them to chase something bigger than a GPA: a life built around music, movement, and creative expression.

“They shouldn’t have to give up the things they love just to get the education they need,” said their mom. “At PA Distance, they don’t have to choose.”

A Day in Their Life: Rehearsals, Rigging, and Routines

On paper, the schedule seems intense. Casey is a senior. Grace is a sophomore. Both take a full load of online classes, manage rehearsals, attend band practices, and—somehow—still find time for clubs, dance, and downtime.

But for them, it works. Google Calendar is their third sibling. Marching band rehearsals happen in the afternoon. Theater runs late into the evening. Schoolwork gets done between or around.

“I always finish assignments before I leave for practice,” Grace said. “It’s just about staying organized.”

She says it casually, but it’s not nothing. Grace is a dancer at Seton Hill Dance Academy, rotating through ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, acro, and more—on top of being a majorette and actress. Casey, meanwhile, is snare drum captain, a stage regular, and a proud D&D club member. He also performs with local productions—his first role was Pig-Pen in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. More recently, he played Fester in The Addams Family.

“I like when the crowd laughs,” Casey said. “It makes all the practice worth it.”

Not Just Extras—Essentials

What their story makes clear is that these aren’t side hobbies. They’re the heart of how Casey and Grace connect with the world. And PA Distance’s model has made that possible.

There’s live instruction, structured pacing, and academic expectations—but there’s also room to breathe. If they need to travel or attend tech week for a show, they don’t fall behind—they plan ahead. According to the family, their teachers are supportive, responsive, and understanding.

“It’s not that school is easier here,” said their mom. “It’s just more human.”

The Myth of Isolation

One thing the Allshouses push back on is the idea that cyber school kids are isolated.

“I have more friends now than I did in brick-and-mortar,” Grace said, “because I get to choose where I put my energy.”

She and Casey both participate in PA Distance’s clubs—Dungeons & Dragons, Minecraft, video games, and even eSports. They connect with students across the state, some of whom they’ve met in person during field trips or performances.

“It’s like being part of two communities at once,” Casey said. “We have school friends and local friends. We’re not missing anything.”

Marching to Their Own Beat

For the Allshouses, PA Distance isn’t just a school—it’s a structure that lets their kids live a full life without sacrificing their creativity or education. It’s why they speak so openly about it and why their family continues to be so involved.

Casey’s hoping to pursue percussion after graduation. Grace isn’t sure yet—maybe something in performance or dance. But either way, they’ll be ready.

“They’re learning more than academics here,” their mom said. “They’re learning how to balance, how to communicate, how to show up for themselves. That’s real success.”