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WS/FC Schools Will Offer New Online Learning Program For Students

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education recently approved a new virtual option for students for the 2020-2021 school year. KERI BROWN/WFDD

School districts across the state are planning the return of in-person learning this fall. Buildings have been closed since March because of concerns over the coronavirus.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is among those that will continue remote learning options for students as well.

The school system is launching a virtual academy in the new academic year. The project had been in the works before the pandemic, but leaders feel now is a good time to start it.

The application process began this week and is open to all students in the district.

Anissia Scales, principal of the new academy, says elementary and middle school students will run a traditional four quarter schedule. High School students will run a semester schedule.

She says the program will be flexible and personalized.

“We will have a schedule and I think that's what separates us now with what we are doing with our eLearning,” says Scales. “And we are requiring for our teachers to have face time with our students daily.”

District officials say classes will be taught by WS/FCS teachers unless there is a special circumstance that requires otherwise. In those cases, a fully certified North Carolina teacher will be utilized.

Guilford County Schools is also planning a similar program. Last week, the school board approved the district to move forward with pursuing two virtual academies — one for grades K-5 and one for grades 6-12.

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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