Connections Education Thought Leaders to Provide Perspective on Virtual School at International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) Conference

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Connections Education

Nov 06, 2015, 13:50 ET


Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) November 06, 2015 -- Education experts from Connections Education (http://www.ConnectionsEducation.com) will share knowledge and insight about virtual school at next week’s 2015 Blended and Online Learning Symposium hosted by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL). Connections Education is a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual education solutions for students in grades K–12 and has been supporting online schools since 2002.

Among the topics discussed by Connections Education thought leaders at the Symposium: accountability measures for online school, online learning and students with disabilities, accessibility, and blended schools (see below for complete schedule).

iNACOL’s annual conference is the industry’s leading event for K-12 online, blended and competency-based learning and brings together experts, leading practitioners and educators, policymakers, researchers and innovators from throughout the field. More than 2,500 representatives from national, state, district, private, and other online education programs are expected at the Symposium held from Nov. 8-11.

“With over 65,000 students across the country attending a virtual school supported by Connections Education and thousands more using our digital courseware and technology, we have a unique view into how students engage with virtual school, how they perform, and best practices for online learning and school operations,” said Dr. Steven Guttentag, president and co-founder of Connections Education. “Our presence at iNACOL will provide insights from our history supporting virtual school and allows us to learn from the other attendees who are using virtual learning to reimagine schools and schooling. Our annual attendance and support for this event reinforces our commitment to the ongoing conversation about how to strengthen K-12 online education.”

Connections Education will participate in the following iNACOL presentations:

Sunday, November 8th
1:00-4:00 PM
Administration and Management of Online Programs

  • David Haglund, Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services Santa Ana Unified School District
  • Donna Hutchison, Vice President, State Relations, Connections Education

Sunday, November 8th
1:00-4:00 PM
An Update on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities: Practitioner Perspectives, Research Results and the Legal Landscape

  • Matt Wicks, Vice President, State Relations and Legislative Policy, Connections Education
  • Marjorie Rofel, Senior Director of Student Services, Connections Education
  • Sean Smith, Professor, University of Kansas and Center for Online Learning and Students with Disabilities
  • Nicole Snyder, Shareholder, Latsha Davis & McKenna, P.C.
  • Skip Stahl, Senior Policy Analyst, CAST & Center for Online Learning and Students with Disabilities

Monday, November 9th
2:05-3:05 PM
Are You at the Intersection of Legal Responsibility for Design, Equity, Access, and Learning?

  • Marjorie Rofel, Senior Director of Student Services, Connections Education
  • Janet Jendron, Program Coordinator, South Carolina Assistive Technology Program
  • Dr. Robert Compton, Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, South Carolina Public Charter School District
  • Dr. Raymond Rose, e-Learning Evangelist, Rose & Smith Associates

Monday, November 9th
2:05-3:05 PM
Unleashing The Potential of gen DIY

  • Mickey Revenaugh, Director, New School Models, Pearson ISDD, Co-Founder and EVP, Connections Education
  • Tom Vander Ark, CEO + Partner, Getting Smart

Monday, November 9th
3:50 -4:50 PM
State of Options: Designing Policies for Online Learning

  • Donna Hutchison, VP of State Relations, Connections Education
  • Holly Sagues, Executive Director, Government Affairs & Strategic Solutions Florida Virtual School
  • Jamey Fitzpatrick, President & CEO, Michigan Virtual University
  • Robyn Bagley, Board Chair, Parents for Choice in Education

Monday, November 9th
3:50 PM-4:50 PM
Reaching Beyond the Border: Expanding Global Markets with the Next Gen Teaching Models

  • Mickey Revenaugh, Director, New School Models, Pearson ISDD, Co-Founder and EVP, Connections Education

Tuesday, November 10th
11:15 AM-12:15 PM
Student Plenary Panel: The Power of Student Voices

  • 5th Grade Student, Florida Virtual School Full Time
  • Register to watch the live stream

Tuesday, November 10th
11:15 AM-12:15 PM
Accountability: Creating the Next Generation of Quality Measures for Virtual Schools

  • Matt Wicks, VP of Data Analysis and Policy, Connections Education
  • John Watson, Founder, Evergreen Education Group
  • Yovhane Metcalfe, PhD., Chief Accountability Officer, Arizona Department of Education
  • Megan Rathbun , Learning Manager, TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School

Tuesday, November 10th
11:15 AM-12:15 PM
Designing Innovative Blended High School Learning Models to Engage All Students

  • Tom Vander Ark, CEO + Partner, Getting Smart
  • Andrew Pasquinilli, Director of Blended Schools, Connections Education
  • Dan McMinn, Principal, Nexus Academy of Grand Rapids
  • Sheri Hardin, Assistant Superintendent, Mountain Education Charter High School

Tuesday, November 10th
2:15-3:15 PM
Quality Safeguards in Online Learning: Are You on the Ball?

  • Mickey Revenaugh, Director, New School Models- Pearson ISDD, Co-Founder and EVP, Connections Education

For the full conference agenda, visit http://www.inacol.org.

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About Connections Education
Connections Education is a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual education solutions for students in grades K–12. The company’s Connections Academy delivers individualized learning to students through tuition-free virtual public schools. In the 2015–2016 school year, Connections Academy supports 30 virtual public schools in 26 states—serving ~65,000 students. Connections Education offers a fully online private school for students worldwide and delivers blended (combination of online and on-site) learning in select states via tuition-free, public, Nexus Academy schools. The Connections Learning by Pearson division meets the needs of schools, school districts, and other institutions with a full range of digital learning solutions for grades K–12 including: online courses, a program for homebound students, a digital learning platform, and private and public online schools. Connections Education is based in Baltimore, Maryland and was named a 2015 and 2014 “Top Workplace” by the Baltimore Sun and a 2013 “Best Place to Work” by Baltimore magazine. Connections Education is part of the global learning company Pearson.

LaWanda Stone, Connections Education, +1 (443) 873-1737, [email protected]