Chosen as "Education Innovator of the Month" for June 2014 by T.H.E. Journal, this is the presentation underlying the archived webinar at http://home.edweb.net/starting-maintaining-virtual-school/

1. Starting and Maintaining a Virtual
School:
Scott Merrick’s EdWeb Share
June 26, 2014
Tennessee’s First, Highest-Achieving Leader Since 2011

3. Quick Personal Notes:

4. I have a beautiful, talented wife and
two beautiful, talented grown kids.

5. I drive a 2009 Smart Car and I like to
relax in a canoe on my favorite lake.

6. I’ve done other things.
See the
“about.me” link
at the end of this
presen-tation)

7. Mission:
• To provide Tennessee students with an individualized, dynamic, and
empowering virtual education developing graduates who are college,
career, and community ready.
Vision:
• Leading the field of virtual education with innovation and creativity
while inspiring v-students to become stewards of their own education,
life-long learners, and excited about the future of education.
But I LOVE doing this:

8. We are structured a little different
from a traditional school….

9. We are innovators…
• FIRST Virtual Public School in TN
• Serving the 42nd largest school district in the country (of 13,588)
• Nontraditional K-12 School (Currently 9-12)
• Part and Full-Time enrollment offered
• Facilitate teaching and learning virtually via the District’s Learning
Management System (LMS): Blackboard
• First-Time Credit NOT to be confused with Credit Recovery
• “Performance Concerns” aka “Mastery=Attendance”
• After-School focused tutoring sessions
• EOC and AP Learning Labs
• SACS accreditation
• NCAA accreditation
• 3D synchronous online meetings via Kitely.com
• MNPS Virtual Academy , (FIRST IN THE WORLD!!!), The Virtual Academy
of Business and Marketing

10. • District Career Fair
• Focused Electives
• Student Portfolio
• Capstone Project
And…

11. http://ncacinc.com/ http://www.wsmv.com/story/24547140/pre
sident-obama-coming-to-nashville
NCAC: President Obama’s Speech:

12. 3D Synchronous Online Meeting Space
in Kitely:

13. We are continuously refining our
operations…
• No GPA restriction for Part-Time, 2.0 GPA requirement for
• Full-Time
• Pacing Guides and grading (students receive 9-week report
cards)
• Student-scheduled Discussion Based Assessments (DBAs)
• No Senior exemptions from virtual exams
• Virtual School Attendance and Truancy Policy (15% off-pace
requires intervention with Juvenile Court)
• Students can choose to work ahead and accelerate
• NEW testing protocols and remote proctoring via ProctorU
• Student Orientation, Midmester, and Final Review sessions
offered
• DLOs in every course, every semester
• Detailed printed Student Handbooks available online

14. We offer ALL core courses needed to
graduate…
Subject Area: Virtual Courses: Total Credits
Required:
Mathematics Algebra I and II, Geometry, Advanced Math with
Business Applications and Liberal Arts Math
4 Credits
English English I, II, III, and IV 4 Credits
Science Biology, Chemistry or Physics, and Physical
Science
3 Credits
Social Studies World History, US History, Economics, or
Government
3 Credits
Social Studies Personal Finance .5 Credit
Foreign Language Spanish I and II, Latin I and II 2 Credits
Physical
Education
Physical Education I and II 1 Credit
Lifetime Wellness Lifetime Wellness 1 Credit
Fine Art Art History 1 Credit
Focused Electives Selected by Student and Parent/Guardian in
Collaboration with School Counselor
3 Credits
Total Credits Required to Graduate: 22.5 Credits

15. Also AP, Dual Enrollment, and Electives

16. Class of 2011!
Class of 2014!

17. We have a beautiful Student Center
where students can work if they wish.

18. And Events:
Onsite tutoring (Math Mondays,
Science Tuesdays, and Language
Wednesdays) Teacher PD

19. and Events:
Science Center Field Trip Prom!

20. and Events:
Zoo visit EOC testing

21. and Events:
Student Advisory Board Proctored testing

22. and Events:
CPR Certification MNPS Project Expo

23. and Events:
Faculty meetings online and
onsite: Potlucks:

24. and Events:
Caving! Graduation!

25. We provide choices for MNPS students
and families…
• Earn your High School
diploma online
• Honors credit in many
courses
• AP courses
• Advanced Credit for Middle
School students
• Dual Enrollment at NSCC
• Summer schooling options
• Work full-time or more
flexibly part-time
• Care for your child or your
parent

26. We are exploding!
“Merrick’s Law…”

27. We are NOT for profit!
Please read this Tennessean article, published April 19, 2014

28. We are always here to answer ANY of
your questions…
Got Questions? We Got Answers?
Call MNPS Virtual School between
9:00AM and 5:00PM At:
(615) 463-0188 Ext. 3900.

29. Contact Information:
Scott Merrick
v-Lead Teacher, v-Online Learning Specialist, v-Academy
Coach, and v-MNPS All-Stars Lead Learner
4805 Park Avenue, Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 463-0188 Ext. 3900
Scott.Merrick@mnps.org
http://vlearn.mnps.org
http://about.me/scottmerrick
http://scottmerrick.net