Springs participation in the annual APLUS+ Personalized Learning Network Association Conference in Anaheim was a “smashing success,” reported Tammy Jackson, Senior Homeschool Director – Marketing Support.
The conference offers “professional development opportunities that are exclusively focused on topics and issues that are most critically important to Personalized Learning Public Charter Schools.” Among the Springs staff presenting were Stacy Grutzmacher, April Jacoby, Cathy Hanson, Vivian Price, Tamara Rose, Carrie Paschall, Karen Arnett, Kelly Harrell, Dan Loder and Isaac Piercy.
George Essel (Lead CTE Coordinator), Mary Jo Huff (Work Experience Education / WEE Teacher) and Maureen Wilson (Director, Real World Academies) also presented six workshops on such topics as Personalized Learning in an Independent Study CTE Classroom, Career Technical Education Online and Internship and Work Experience Education (WEE) Supporting Career Readiness.
During the Pioneer Awards Ceremony, APLUS+ founder/director Jeff Rice presented Ms. Wilson and Mr. Essel with the 2017 Personalized Learning Pioneer Award for Springs Charter Schools CTE Programs – Career Pathway Innovations.
Along with Judy Adair, Springs’ Lead WEE Coordinator, Springs’ CITE department is committed to assisting students in becoming both career and college ready, said Ms. Wilson. She noted that Springs had 12 CTE Pathways available to all Springs high school students. She said, “Our designated-subject credentialed teachers are industry experts and employ personalized learning in order for students to master CTE Pathway standards.”
Mr. Essel noted that Springs “has been at the forefront of CTE and Internship/WEE in the charter community and has been giving related workshops at multiple venues both at the state and national level.”
He continued, “By having a large complement of attendees join us for multiple workshops, we were able to provide deeper insight and assistance as other charter schools develop their own CTE and Internship/WEE programs.”
