#FLVSTURNS20

Online Learning: A 20 Year Journey

By on June 19th, 2018


If you asked me 20 years ago where I saw myself in the future, I’m not sure I would have said I’d be at Florida Virtual School (FLVS) as a Communications Specialist. My love of writing came while in second grade when my teacher, Mrs. Kast, told me I was a natural writer, so the communications part fits. But 20 years ago, I did not have a clue what a virtual school was.

Neither did most of the world. Continue reading


Taking a Chance on Innovation

By on May 31st, 2018

Today, options have become a staple in nearly all aspects of life, so it’s really no surprise that educational options exist in the modern-day student’s life. But how did it get that way?

Well, it didn’t just happen overnight. Education policies and practices tend to change very slowly. Continue reading


Looking Back at the History of FLVS

By on January 17th, 2018

I started working at Florida High School (as FLVS was called in its early days) in January of 2000.

My interview was short and sweet…three questions. After I answered the questions, I was taken to the office of Julie Young, our first leader and online education pioneer, for a few more questions and the job offer. Continue reading


Where FLVS Students See Themselves in 20 Years

By on December 1st, 2017

FLVS has certainly grown since we first opened our virtual doors in 1997. We’ve come a long way over the years, and so have our students!

During our recent photo contest, students told us how they have grown thanks to FLVS and where they see themselves in the future. Last month, we shared our three contest winners, but there were so many amazing entries that we had to include a few honorable mentions…

Continue reading


Lemonade Stands and Lotus Notes

By on November 28th, 2017

Back in the early days of FLVS, we all used to wear many hats. I was a course developer, teacher, district community liaison, legislative educator. Our IT support consisted of one person!

We did a lot of traveling to educate different organizations, schools, and community groups. We would set up lemonade stands at high school cafeterias to provide students with information about taking online classes. Continue reading



FLVS in the Days of Dial-Up Internet

By on September 26th, 2017

It was August of 2000. As my friends who taught in a brick-and-mortar classroom got up at 6 a.m. to face their first day, I was starting my first day as a virtual school teacher.

I was one of three Personal Fitness teachers and together we were going to change the face of how people thought of PE online. My routine was easy and executed with timely precision. Continue reading


If You Build It, They Will Come

By on July 31st, 2017

FLVS Turns 20

It was late 1997. A group of six teachers and four support personnel had spent five months learning about teaching online from any source we could find.

We were building courses in Lotus Learning Space, and preparing to register kids for this new thing called Florida High School. There had been tears, there had been elation, and there had been a lot of supposition about what teaching online meant.

We nervously sat around a small round conference table waiting for the phone to ring after we opened registration for the first time ever. We kept saying to each other, “If we build it, they will come,” but would students really want to try this? The “Web School” pilot in Orange County in the 1996-97 school year drew some students, so we had hope.

Finally, after an excruciating wait, the phone rang. We had our first student! Continue reading