Colorado Virtual Academy Teacher Named Online Teacher of the Year

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) recognized outstanding teachers this week, including Deborah Sudbeck, a Longmont resident and elementary teacher at Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA), a statewide online public school serving students in grades K through 12.

Each year, the CDE recognizes teachers and counselors who demonstrate excellence in teaching and commitment to 21st century learning. This year, Sudbeck is one of the four teachers to receive the 2012 Online Teacher of the Year in the elementary school category.

“It’s an honor to be chosen out of the many wonderful teachers at COVA and the larger online school community in Colorado. I’m grateful for the personal recognition and pleased for the awareness this brings to COVA and online education,” said Sudbeck. “Education is not one-size-fits all, and I’ve seen how a more custom approach delivered through COVA’s online model and curriculum guided by highly qualified, licensed teachers can help students achieve success.”

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Wednesday Churn: Welcome back

2. Among all news stories, a three-part series titled Troubling questions about online education drew the most page views in 2011. A joint project of EdNews and the Rocky Mountain Investigative News Network, the articles were based on an analysis of state data that showed half of Colorado’s full-time online students wind up leaving their virtual programs within a year – and they’re often further behind academically than when they started. On a national level, The New York Times also took a look at virtual schools.

3. Election coverage of school board races in Douglas and Jefferson counties was a hit, perhaps because the campaigns receive little coverage elsewhere. We get the message – there are great stories outside of Denver that deserve attention.

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Learning online

This trend has alarmed the usual suspects, including the teacher unions who see online education as a threat to their monopoly. But teachers who are involved in virtual schooling are enthusiastic about its power to give kids a leg up.

One, Kristin Kipp at Colorado Virtual Academy in Jefferson County, says she has found that she got to know her high school students more through their steady stream of texts, emails and phone calls. “My constant message in an online classroom is, ‘I see you. I know you’re there.’ So kids are constantly getting messages from me saying, ‘Hey, your grade went up 5 percent this week. Congratulations; keep up the hard work.’”

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District debuts online school

About 120 students attended the first day of school Wednesday at School District 51 without leaving home.

Students of Grande River Virtual Academy, District 51’s first online school for kindergarten through 12th-grade students, use their home computers to access classes, assignments and exams. The online curriculum for elementary and middle school students comes from K12, an online education program, while Aventa, a related program, provides the high school curriculum, all of which meet state standards.

Like most online schools, Grande River kids are guided through the curriculum by their parents and can call or video chat with a teacher when they get stuck on a lesson or need help navigating through the online school’s system.

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School district begins open enrollment

The public schools of Douglas County School District (DCSD) are open to all children of the district. Any student in the county may apply to attend any DCSD school that has space available.

Most students attend their neighborhood school, but the district also offers charter and magnet schools, alternative high schools, home school support, online education, and special programs to serve the needs of each student.

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Choosing your child’s school

Several alternatives are available for parents like signing up their child at a charter school, private school or even ride the new wave of technology and register them for online schooling instead.

K12 is an option for parents looking to provide their children with an education outside of the four walls of a classroom. The educational model for K12 is to give its student an individualized education supporting his or her needs through its curriculum. K12 provides online education from grades K-12 across the country from the comfort of your own home and is available in some public schools. Visit www.K12.com for more information.

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Online Courses Offer Options, Support for Homeschooling Families

As more and more families seek alternatives to traditional school, we’re seeing an increase in students blending homeschool and online education. Every family and situation is different, but regardless of the circumstance, a tough decision has to be made when homeschooled students enter their high school years. In the past, the choices have typically been a) continue homeschooling through high school or b) start at/return to a traditional brick & mortar school.

Now, thanks to public online schools, like Insight Schools, families have a choice that offers different options for student-centered learning that didn’t exist just a few years ago – eliminating the either/or choice of the past. Insight Schools and other online education providers are allowing students to enroll full-time as well as part-time. A full-time option allows students to take a full course-load in the environment they’re accustomed to and still have their parent by their side, while part-time enrollment gives them the option of taking a class or two while still receiving instruction from their parents for their remaining courses.

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