Leap of Faith

There is a reason that I am at Florida Virtual School (FLVS) – my aunt made me take a leap of faith. In 1997, a friend interviewed for Florida High School, an early name for FLVS. When she came back from the interview, she said, “You need to go interview – this is made for you.” So, I went to meet with Julie Young and heard about the plans for this radical new thing called a virtual school.

After being offered a position, I went home and agonized all night. I had a nice teaching job where I knew what was going to happen tomorrow, and I had a pretty good idea what was going to happen next year and the following. This was radical – no one in the country was trying to create a public virtual school. It could fail before it even started.

I talked to my husband; I talk to my friends; but the one person that really made a difference was my aunt. I have looked up to her all of my life as a career woman, creativity connoisseur, and amazing mother. When I called her, she said, “You have always been on the cutting edge of everything you do. This is no different. Take a leap of faith – it will be extraordinary.” I called Julie that next morning and accepted the job that has changed my life for 15 years.

As I write this, I’m sitting on an airplane flying to Pennsylvania to visit my aunt, who lies very sick in a hospital. All I can think of is how much I owe her for making me take that leap of faith to join Florida Virtual School. Don’t miss your opportunity! Whether you are a teacher or student, talk with those you love, trust that the normal can be replaced by the extraordinary, and take a leap into online learning.

Post by Jennifer Whiting, Former Chief Technology Innovation Officer, Curriculum Manager, and Educator