LAPEER, Michigan — Lapeer Virtual, a partnership between Lapeer Community Schools (LCS) and Pearson Connexus, a leading education company, is now enrolling students for the 2017-18 school year. Lapeer Virtual is open to K-12 students in Lapeer County and all contiguous counties – Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair and Tuscola.

Lapeer Virtual offers a world-class education focused on the needs of individual students and their families. If your student is a self-starter, highly motivated and independent, Lapeer Virtual might be a perfect fit for your learner.

“This represents another high-level academic opportunity for students in Lapeer and across the region,” said LCS Director of Innovation, Ken Janczarek. “This allows students to work at their own pace, in the setting of their choosing, with all the support they need to succeed. Blended and online learning represent a sea change in education, full of new opportunities. We’re very fortunate to be able to provide this to our students.”

Lapeer Virtual is the only virtual program in the state to offer Pearson Connexus. A curriculum that is unmatched in its range of student-centered resources.

Pearson’s suite of online curriculum is nationally-recognized for excellence and accredited by AdvancED. Every course offering is designed to, at-once, build a foundation for success in the future while engaging students in subject matter tailored to their goals and interests.

“As a district, I think we are starting to move the needle toward a more innovative and inclusive approach to education,” said LCS Superintendent Matt Wandrie. “Lapeer Virtual represents an exciting opportunity for a diverse range of students who prefer and, in some cases, require home-based learning. It’s not for everyone, but for many students it’s an incredible opportunity.”

Virtual learning provides families with unlimited access to advanced curriculum and the accommodations for travel, sports and other activities that command a lot of a family’s time.

“We recognize that students and their families are being pulled in a lot of different directions these days,” Janczarek said. “What we’ve learned from students is that, once they’ve developed the proper time management skills required for success, the sky’s the limit.”

Lapeer Virtual students are provided with support from experienced certified teachers, a simple-to-use online learning system and all the materials they will need to complete the program. Finally, Lapeer Virtual students have access to all the social and community-based events that traditional LCS students have, including extra-curricular activities and the opportunity to graduate with a Lapeer Community Schools diploma.

Kelsey Newsome, who graduated from Lapeer Virtual last month, has taken advantage of the pacing and flexibility offered by online learning. Newsome, only 16 years old, is a professional gamer who travels the country competing in tournaments.

Michele Pfeiffer, a veteran teacher who works with virtual students every day, credits Kelsey’s success in the virtual learning program to his ability to balance his independence with his responsibility to his studies.

“Kelsey has the best time management skills that I’ve witnessed in this program,” she said. “Kelsey has proven to be an amazing independent learner.”

Kelsey admits that it was a difficult transition at first because he wasn’t accustomed to his newfound freedom.
“You really have to be responsible,” he said. “There’s a tendency to procrastinate at first.”

Kelsey says there’s ample support and accountability for students in order to make sure they stay on track. Susan, his mother, says without virtual learning, Kelsey would not be as successful in school or in his gaming career.

“The virtual learning experience has allowed for the best of both worlds; it has allowed Kelsey to achieve his goals throughout his high school years,” she said. “Virtual learning isn’t for everyone, but it’s a perfect match for Kelsey.”

Lapeer Virtual currently has openings for the 2017-18 school year. If you or someone you know is interested in Lapeer Virtual, please call 810-538-1660 or visit us at Facebook.com/LapeerVirtual.