Flexibility entices students for Lee Virtual School
The new principal of Lee Virtual School said the vision of the online school is expansive because the possibilities are limitless to enhance the offerings.
“I would like to partner with every school more to provide virtual learning labs for students there,” Lee Virtual School Principal Jennifer McMillan Barnes said. “I would like to align with CTE and provide more CTE courses that maybe other schools could not offer that the virtual platform would allow.”
In addition, she would like to retain Lee County students, which would help with FTE funding.
“During the pandemic, we lost quite a few people,” McMillan Barnes said.
The vision also includes adding the University of Cambridge classes, as well as increasing acceleration options. Other goals include returning Lee Virtual School to an A school grade, as well as making the school a premier virtual school in the State of Florida.
These goals were part of a presentation given to the Lee County School Board during its Tuesday meeting.
“We are a unique learning style school. Every student is different. Every kid is different and they all have unique ways of learning. It is a great way for kids that have unique styles to be flexible,” she said.
Lee Virtual School is a franchise of Florida Virtual School, as they use their programs and curriculum.
“Our students get to participate in every event that Lee County has. That is a big difference. They are within our county (and get) to participate in events, sports and clubs at brick-and-mortar schools,” she said.
Lee Virtual School, as of February 2023, has 873 students. Of those students 178 are elementary school students, 248 are middle school students and 378 are high school students. In addition, 804 are full-time students and 69 are part-time.
There are 38 teachers, among other personnel, including a literacy coach, school counselors and school social workers. Teachers, who work from home, are available for students and parents from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. by phone, texts, phone calls and email.
Among the enrollment there are 140 exceptional student education students, 77 non-gifted and 63 gifted. There are also 56 full-time English Language Learners students and 20 part-time students.
McMillan Barnes said families choose Lee Virtual School because of its structured flexibility.
“The flexibility comes in doing course work around your life and whatever your child is involved in,” she said. “We have students who are on sports teams that travel the world, in different types of competitions. They want to stay connected to their county and their schools, however they want flexibility, to do their work at night, or on the weekend, depending on what their schedule offers.”
Lee Virtual School offers both full-time and part-time options.
Those who participate in part-time also attend a brick-and-mortar Lee County school, seek accelerated learning, have an opportunity to take additional electives, or an opportunity to graduate early.
The full-time students follow the district’s instructional calendar, participate in extracurricular activities and dual enrollment and earn a high school diploma.
McMillan Barnes said students have very specific assignments that are due for every course every single week.
“The word is pace,” she said. “They must be able to follow multi-directions. (It is a) reading and writing based curriculum.”
McMillan Barnes said pace is what matters the most, rather than grades, as grades do not occur until the end.
“You can’t catch up once you are behind. It’s a slow, deliberate method because you have to do a little more every single week. We create a plan to help that family get back on track.”
Students have to stay focused despite distractions. For elementary students they have four core courses, which include language arts, math, science and social studies, which includes about three to four assignments per course due weekly.
Sixth through 12th grade students have a minimum of six courses and two to three assignments per course due weekly.
“Parents have to make sure that time is sacred for their child’s time to learn,” McMillan Barnes said. “Parents must act as a learning guide. Secondary (level) parents’ main role is to monitor on a daily basis of completing assignments”
“I have kids that have taken online courses. I had no idea that parents had a role. I am being completely serious. I have no role in their online courses at all and they have all done great,” Board member Chris Patricca said, adding that they have to do a better job of advertising parental involvement.
The learning model is asynchronous, which has students doing their work on their own time.
“We do operate on semesters rather than quarters,” she said. “Teachers create pace charts of the curriculum, so students have it very structured for them week by week.”
There are weekly live lessons through Zoom with teachers to go deeper into the standards. In addition, students have to create an agenda for themselves, have biweekly discussion based assessments and log into class every day.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com