What’s Right With Our Schools: Hamilton County Virtual Schools

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – During the pandemic, most parents became familiar with virtual school. For some students, the virtual environment is still the best place for them to learn.

Hamilton County has a program that helps kids learn at their own pace where they are most comfortable. That’s a timely example of what’s right with our schools.

Lee Boles is the school coordinator for Hamilton County Virtual School.

He explains, “The Hamilton County Virtual School is Hamilton County’s asynchronous school. We serve grades K through 12. We currently have about 300 students with the asynchronous piece. Our classes are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  We do have state certified teaches who provide instruction or provide tutoring resources through zoom meetings.”

Boles continues, “Our students are also eligible to play sports at their zoned schools. We also run in person science labs on Wednesday.”

Kamie McAnulty is a Virtual School teacher.

She says, “So, my role as a teacher has changed. But I’m still there for my students so I facilitate through, but they can email me with questions. We have live zooms. I’m there every step of the way.”

Lee Boles chips in, “And we run small group tutoring Monday through Thursday through our Dean of students. ”

Student Naomi Dominguez says, “There is a lot of difference things that I like about it. I really enjoy the freedom that is giving to us as students we’re not treated like we are in in person schools.”

Student Emma Green adds, “So, I do drag race on the weekends, and sometimes I do on the week. Depends, if we go out of town or not, but it’s easy for me to do online school because I can take it with me instead of having to be at school and not being able to raise.”

Student Landon Thomas says, “It’s easier to… maintain your anxiety and stress if you’re in virtual. But it’s not like every person has the same thing, same personality.”

Lee Boles concludes, “With virtual school, our students can also take dual enrollment courses through Chattanooga state. We had a student this year who participated in TCAT courses at Chatt State Sound Man, and with our asynchronous set up through chat state, or other dual enrollment options, the student can either register for the online version of the course, or they can physically attend the course on Chattanooga State campus or any local college campus. To enroll in virtual school, we have to apply through Hamilton County school choice application that reopens on March 16, and you can contact our school if you need help doing that, and from there, you complete a commitment form and then once that is completed, you enrolled in our school.”