CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — What happens when you turn Tina Thomas’ classroom at the CREST school in Lecanto into a courtroom?  The answer: You learn about Edgar Allan Poe.

“Ladies and gentleman,” says Thomas very dramatically in her English accent-- standing at the front of the class. “We are here with the prosecution and defense and witnesses to try the Tell-Tale Heart.”

This is just one of the innovative teaching techniques Thomas has been using for years with her special needs high school students.  She came to the US 25 years ago with her husband who owned a shipping company.

"I wanted to be a teacher all my life," she said. "It wasn't until my husband fell ill that I decided to pursue my passion for teaching.  

"I started here and I just fell in love with the school and decided to get my teaching license so that I could come back here."

Back to the trial: Each student has a role to play. 

They have a script they read. They take it very seriously. The school principal is the judge. And when the verdict is announced there is a noticeable pause—and then it’s over.

One of the older students is Edgar Demessa.  

"It really helps me focus on the main idea of the story," Demessa said. "It helps me focus on the details of whatever I happen to be reading. I really enjoy it."

Demessa is in 11th grade and looks forward to his eventual graduation. He loves working with computers and hopes to make a career of it.

“We help the students achieve to their highest potential," Thomas said. "And help them cope with their learning challenges. I’ve been blessed to have worked with some of these students for several years and have seen them make a lot of progress."

As much as Thomas gives these students she knows there are many others that need even more help succeeding.

"We have a couple of student that just joined us that can’t get counseling outside because of budget cuts," she said. "So that’s the goal here. My goal is to get them back to high school."

After watching these students perform, no doubt, that goal is getting closer and closer thanks to Tina Thomas.