The Next Wave

Often it is the individuals with an eye on the next wave that manage to keep their head above water. It is with this intention in mind that I make the next move in my career in education. Beginning next year, the school year 2008-2009, I will be employed by my current district as Cyber Academy Coordinator. My school district has decided to develop and offer its own Cyber School (Pleasant Valley Cyber Academy) in an effort to meet some pressing needs. One need is academic in nature. Students who leave our district for other cyber schools are often faced with curricula much different from what they previously engaged. The quality of education they recieve is undeterminable, and if they should ever return to their home district, they could be very far behind. The second need that helped forge the creation of this Cyber Academy is financial. With every student we lose to an alternate placement, the district sends with that student their funding. In short form, it all adds up. This endeavor makes sense simply due to the numbers. If just 3 parents of  special education students (with their increased level of funding) who are intent on cyber-schooling choose our model, the initial district investment pays for itself.

Needless to say, I am more than excited to become involved in this venture. It’s great to be on the ground floor of something cutting edge in your field and although I will miss classroom teaching, this position will more than provide the challenges that I seek out. Cyber education is already an established field. Cyber schools, created by actual brick and mortar school districts, are the latest wave. I’m just glad I saw it coming!