Ever wondered what school would be like if your only classmate was your sister? Well for Caitlyn and Camryn McCullers, these Arizona Virtual Academy alumni spent their entire K-12 years going to school together. “I think as twins in an environment where we are constantly together, we just have this natural bond,” Camryn states. These sisters admit they loved going to school together. They have a unique story, as their parents are both teachers at a brick-and-mortar school. “Our parents wanted my sister and I to be able to learn at our own pace and in a peaceful environment,” Caitlyn shares. “S ..read more

By Leilani M. Brown We are most certainly living in unprecedented times. As parents, educators, and leaders we are trying to manage our health and well-being during COVID-19 as well as promote and ensure equity for all people and reflect on what more we can do to ensure equity for all people, navigating an uncertain future is a different kind of challenge. Our teens are challenged differently in this crisis, with classes and summer camps canceled, graduations going virtual and their futures more uncertain than ever before. And, the loss of independence and social interaction should not be unde ..read more

Receiving the news that you have a brain tumor is something that completely changes your life. But for Kerrie Rogers, this devastating news had an additional toll: she was only 14 years old. Soon after receiving the news, Kerrie found herself in doctor’s appointments with specialists working to find a way to improve her condition. “I underwent surgery and it was all removed and benign, but I developed the condition known as Cerebellar Mutism after,” Kerrie said. “It basically means that the part of my brain that is responsible for coordination and balance do not function properly.” Kerrie had ..read more

The Class of 2020 has experienced a difficult senior year with COVID-19 changing graduation plans and moving most celebrations online. Despite the whirlwind of events, this Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA) student had a surprise in store. On the last day of classes, Rhyan Anderson stepped outside to take a picture in her cap and gown. To her surprise, a parade of cars began to drive past cheering her name, waving signs, and throwing presents out the window. With a drive-by celebration, students were applauded for their achievements from a social distance. The parade was organized, in secret, by two ..read more

Now more than ever, it is important for students to have different ways to express their thoughts and feelings. For Amanda Crawford, a middle school art teacher at Virginia Virtual Academy (VAVA), this is the cornerstone of her online teaching philosophy. She believes that art classes open up educational opportunities to a new group of students. “Art classes are a creative safe space and my students are getting a sense of community and belonging,” she said. Amanda works to bring her students together through her class and provides opportunities to foster creativity. When her scheduled class fi ..read more

With online learning, students are able to adjust their classes and schedules in a way that sets them up for success. That is exactly what Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA) senior Lydia England did. By taking the reins of her education, Lydia was named an Academic All-state by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The Academic All-state award is provided to individuals across the state of Oklahoma for academic success, community involvement and participation in extracurricular activities. Lydia is one of 100 students to receive Oklahoma’s most rigorous academic award. Each year, award ..read more

K12 hosted its first-ever Week of Understanding last month, to mark the company’s commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace.   CEO and Chairman Nate Davis kicked off the week’s events with a live Q & A session via Zoom, hosted by Celeste Chatman, Director of Diversity & Inclusion. Nate shared his eagerness to foster an open and inclusive culture at K12, and said he looked forward to a week of opportunities for people at every level of the company to share opinions, ideas, and experiences that would get us there. More than an exercise implemented by K12’s executi ..read more

The road to becoming a better leader requires facing challenges in order to discover strengths. With the backing of a supportive community and an unbreakable accountability system, that journey can result in a stronger and wiser leader. That is just a peek into the leadership journey for this year’s cohort at K12’s third annual Grow Emerging Leader Summit, held at the company’s Herndon, Virginia headquarters earlier this month. Developed by K12’s Talent Development and Community team, the Grow Summit hosted a group of twenty aspiring Heads of Schools, Principals, Academic and Special Progr ..read more

Our world is big, yet our viewpoints can be so small. Typically, we find ourselves surrounded by those who are similar to us, forming communities and networks who look like us and share our core values. But with such a vast world full of varying cultures and distinctions, this may mean we’re missing out on opportunities to grow and change. . Due to modern advances, people are more connected than ever before. Yet it can be hard to reach out and learn from new perspectives. In today’s hyper-partisan society, this issue is further magnified. That is why it is important that we educate the next ..read more

It’s a new year and like a lot of people out there I’m doing my usual rigorous planning in preparation for a successful 2020! This time of year presents us all with the opportunity to think about new beginnings. As an educator and a parent, I like to think that we can challenge our children and students to do the same. As adults who have experienced our own unique career pathways for a number of years, we now enjoy questioning the young people in our lives about what they intend to do after high school. The line of questioning takes many forms, including: What do you think you want to do s ..read more