About Dr. Jeanne Giardino
Dr. Jeanne Giardino, FLVS instructor, has a true passion for all things literacy. She enjoys the collaborative process in promoting reading in all aspects of virtual education. Having held a variety of positions with FLVS since 2006, she brings a global perspective to her current position. After 20 years in the field of education, she maintains a wealth of literacy knowledge and enthusiasm for student success.
Meet the FLVS Flex Elementary Principal
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on October 21st, 2016
We are celebrating the 2016-17 school year with a blog series featuring FLVS faculty and staff. Meet the creative and dedicated individuals who make every day a great day at FLVS!
Did you know that FLVS has a new FLVS Flex elementary program for grades Kindergarten – Grade 5?
It’s true! The program is even up for an award for its innovative online “Class Time.” (Vote for us on Facebook here through Oct. 31!)
Leading this innovative program is Sarah Sprinkel who serves as its principal and biggest cheerleader. She was one of the program developers working with a team of FLVS administrators, curriculum specialists, school counselors, and teachers to create a virtual education experience that personalizes online elementary curriculum for each and every student enrolled.
Sarah brings her years of experience inspiring elementary school students as a classroom teacher as well as working with school districts on their policies and government relations to enhance early childhood education. As FLVS Elementary program principal, she uses her diverse leadership experiences to ensure the school is exceeding the expectations for the students. Sarah works closely with her dedicated staff of instructors, support staff, and advisors looking forward to expanding the virtual program.
I am honored to share with you my interview with Sarah Sprinkel. Continue reading
Meet an FLVS Instructional Leader
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on October 19th, 2016
We are celebrating the 2016-17 school year with a blog series featuring FLVS faculty and staff. Meet the creative and dedicated individuals who make every day a great day at FLVS!
When you think of a school principal, you might imagine a friendly administrator grasping a walkie-talkie in one hand and fist bumping the students with the other – a warm and friendly figure guiding the school to success each and every day.
At FLVS, the role of the school principal or “Instructional Leader” is just a little different, but still with the goal of success in mind. In my 10 years of working with FLVS and the Instructional Leaders (ILs), the role of the schoolhouse administrators has changed and evolved into a powerhouse of leadership – ensuring success for both the instructors and students.
FLVS employs more than 1,000 instructors, both full-time and part-time. The sheer number of educators in our organization requires more than just one school principal. FLVS has more than 50 Instructional Leaders supporting instruction and student achievement. They are responsible for supervising, evaluating, and communicating with a large team of instructors, ensuring excellent student/parent customer service, promoting best practices in instruction, analyzing data, and so much more!
And, NO, these administrators do not wear superhero capes. Continue reading
Meet an FLVS School Counselor
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on September 30th, 2016
We are celebrating the 2016-17 school year with a blog series featuring FLVS faculty and staff. Meet the creative and dedicated individuals who make every day a great day at FLVS!
“What courses do I need to meet the state graduation requirement for online learning?”
“I want to earn a technical certificate in computer programming, so what courses should I take?”
“How do I enroll in a course with prerequisites?”
Ever had a school-related question that you couldn’t quite find the answer to? Who should you reach out to ask all these questions?
The FLVS School Counseling team – that’s who!
Kristie Knight has more than 10 years of school counseling experience that serves her well in the fast-paced environment at FLVS. Her phone never stops ringing – which is a good thing! Continue reading
Meet the FLVS Math Literacy Coach
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on September 21st, 2016
We are celebrating the 2016-17 school year with a blog series featuring FLVS faculty and staff. Meet the creative and dedicated individuals who make every day a great day at FLVS!
When you hear the term “literacy,” you might not think the subject of math applies.
Well, it does! Math has a language all its own.
Mathematics has a unique literacy that relates to vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, sequencing, and more. It takes a very special professional to support math instructors by way of literacy skills and professional development. Professional development offered by our coaches takes place year round and is based on in-depth educational research.
Coaching takes a lot of time and effort. At FLVS, we value all of our instructional coaches who work so hard behind the scenes supporting our instructors and providing them with best practices and tools so our students can be successful. Continue reading
Meet an FLVS Lead Teacher
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on September 20th, 2016
We are celebrating the 2016-17 school year with a blog series featuring FLVS faculty and staff. Meet the creative and dedicated individuals who make every day a great day at FLVS!
The role of lead teacher at Florida Virtual School is one of expertise and support for the content area they serve.
Instructors work closely with their Lead Teacher to ensure best practices in the classroom are maintained and innovations applied when the need presents itself. Another important support provided by the lead is vacation coverage for instructors. As the lead is well-versed in their content area, the coverage is seamless and students know that they have someone to ask questions to during their teacher’s vacation.
Theresa Bauman is the Lead Teacher for FLVS Parenting Skills and has been in this position for three years.
She is a veteran of the United States Army and served in Washington, DC during her service tenure. Moving into education years later, she earned her master’s degree in education applying her real-world experience with the ever-changing landscape of our schools. Continue reading
Meet a New FLVS Instructor
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on September 19th, 2016
We are celebrating the 2016-17 school year with a blog series featuring FLVS faculty and staff. Meet the creative and dedicated individuals who make every day a great day at FLVS!
Have you ever thought about how exciting it would be to be an FLVS instructor? Well, meet Kevin Kessler who just came on board this fall to join FLVS Full Time as a dynamic science teacher!
Kevin Kessler is someone who is very friendly and gregarious. I met Kevin last year as we are both enrolled in the doctoral program at Florida Southern College and attend the same cohort.
Kevin has a warm rapport with people and is very knowledgeable about education around the world. A born traveler, he brings a rich and unique perspective to his FLVS Full Time science classroom having had adventures all across the globe.
When he first approached me about joining FLVS, I was not only excited that he could possibly join our faculty, but thought of all of the world experiences he would bring into the lives of our students. Focused on helping each and every student achieve their very best in his classroom, Kevin believes that all students can be successful and reach their highest potential. Continue reading
A Critical Course to Take in High School
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on September 9th, 2016
What would you consider to be the most important courses to take in high school?
How about Math, Science, History, English…and Parenting Skills!
Want to determine just how prepared you (or your students) are for parenthood?
Take our pop quiz to find out!
1. How many hours of coursework are required for people wishing to become parents?
2. How much money does it cost to raise a child to the age of 18?
3. What can be done to prevent child abuse/neglect before a child is even born?
How do you think you did? Continue reading
Why Back to School is Better Online (Remix!)
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on August 5th, 2016
A few years ago, I wrote a blog post sharing why going back to school is way easier online.
Now that it’s August and students are once again headed back into classrooms across the state of Florida, it seemed like a great opportunity to revisit our list of reasons why students at FLVS Flex and FLVS Full Time have it made!
We all know that there all kinds of benefits to virtual school…
From the value of learning how to study and succeed online in general to the fact that Driver Education meets the online high school course requirement for students in Florida, there are plenty of advantages. But the perks we’ve outlined below are much cooler than these!
Here is our new and improved top 15 list of reasons the first day of school at FLVS is infinitely better than the first day at “regular” school… Continue reading
Summer Reading!
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on June 29th, 2016
I don’t know about you, but I look forward to May 1 each and every year!
Why you ask? Picture this: children standing outside the public library automatic sliding doors in the month of May. Sweat beading down their young faces as they grip in their hands the list of all lists – the Sunshine State Young Reader (SSYRA) book list for the year!
Will my book be on the shelf?
The Sunshine State books are coveted and hoarded by children all over the state of Florida each year. These titles literally fly off the shelves of stores and public libraries. Continue reading
Service Learning
By Dr. Jeanne Giardino on June 24th, 2015
“Volunteers are not paid—not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”
Do you volunteer or did you when you were young?
Do you remember who Candy Stripers were? They were hospital volunteers. Working as a Candy Striper was my first experience volunteering and it taught me real-world experiences that helped shape my future.
I volunteered each Sunday from 12 – 4 p.m. at Pembroke Pines Hospital in South Florida. There were many rules and the expectations for the teen volunteers were high, dauntingly so. We received intensive training that resembled that of a NASA Astronaut. Continue reading