NOTE:
Dave Komer of The News-Herald Newspapers recently published a story about the
success of the Virtual Learning Academy.
TAYLOR
— Taylor School District’s Virtual Learning Academy was designed for those high
school students who would be left behind in a traditional setting. At last week’s
Board of Education meeting, leaders of the online program presented their
results from its first year and are calling it a success.
Twenty-two
of 24 seniors graduated using the program, which had 138 students enrolled
overall.
Students
in the learning academy are given laptops with online connection capability, so
they can access their classes at any time.
“
Those
are students who in normal circumstances, would not have been able to earn a
diploma at all,” Program Manager Pat Scott said. “We are looking forward to
starting our second year.”
Social
worker Michelle Cavillo said that by using the holistic approach, the staff
knows if the immediate needs of the student are not first addressed, then they
are not going to learn and be able to focus.
“When
you have kids that are or have been homeless, their parents are on drugs,
they’re hungry, or in a domestic violence situation, they are not thinking
about school,” Cavillo said. “It is the last thing on their mind.
“Their
brain is not in a normal place. They are not thinking about taking a Math test.
It’s like, ‘Take a Math test, or eat.’
“Which
one would you choose, if you haven’t eaten in three days?”
About
90 percent of the work is done at home, but the program offers a blended
element where students come into school’s computer lab and meet with their
mentor for one-on-one or small group help, she said.
Mentors
not only work with students on their academic needs, but “whatever needs they
have as teenagers, are our business,” Scott said, adding each student can work
at his or her own pace.
“If
you don’t get the assignment on Monday, Tuesday is coming. You can do it then
and you don’t fall behind,” she said. “Their program is unique to them.”
High
school age students make up most of the program, with some middle school
students.
It
also consists of expelled students, who would normally be home for a year.
Scott said the intent is to get those students ready to go back into school
with a “transformed” thought process.
Currently
211 students are enrolled for fall, with the limit set at 300. Scott and her
staff are reviewing applications and conducting interviews for the remaining
spots.
The
interest in the academy has been so strong, that there was a waiting list last
year for it and there will likely be another list this year.
Scott
called the program the most pleasurable teaching experience of her life.
“I
tell my students all the time they have to have a strong foundation,” she said.
“Because the storms of life will blow them over if they don’t have one.”
To
see the News-Herald’s original story online, which includes photos and video,
click here.
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