#41 BOLD Moves: How Virtual Schools Are Redefining Education in Florida with Mandy Perry

Why Distance Learning?

In this episode of the Why Distance Learning? Podcast, hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Mandy Perry, a virtual school principal and president of the Blended and Online Learning Discovery (BOLD) of Florida Executive Board. Mandy shares her journey in virtual education, her leadership role in BOLD, and how virtual schools in Florida are evolving to meet the needs of students across the state.

Key topics discussed include:

• The Birth of BOLD: Mandy shares the origins of BOLD, an organization created to support virtual school leaders in Florida. She explains how it has grown to become a vital resource for 67 public virtual school districts, offering collaboration, professional development, and legislative advocacy.
• Virtual Schools vs. State Virtual Schools: Mandy explains the differences between district and state virtual schools in Florida, emphasizing how they work together to provide a wide range of courses to students. She highlights the flexibility and choice that virtual schools offer, particularly in subjects like foreign languages and specialized courses.
• Building Relationships in a Virtual Environment: Mandy discusses the importance of relationship-building not just between students and teachers, but also among administrators and educators. She shares how BOLD facilitates these connections to enhance the virtual learning experience.
• Challenges and Misconceptions of Online Learning: Mandy addresses common misconceptions about online learning, including the differences between emergency remote learning during the pandemic and quality online education. She also talks about the traits that make a good online learner and how virtual schools can adapt to meet diverse student needs.
• Innovations in Virtual Education: Mandy highlights some of the innovations at Pinellas Virtual School, such as separating student and parent orientations to better tailor the learning experience and improve student success.

This episode offers valuable insights into the evolving world of virtual education, the importance of collaboration among educators, and how virtual schools can provide students with unique opportunities and skills for the future.

For more insights and practical advice, tune into this episode and explore the work of BOLD and Pinellas Virtual School. Links to their resources are available in the show notes.

About today’s guest: Mandy Perry is the principal of Pinellas Virtual School and president of the Blended and Online Learning Discovery (BOLD) of Florida Executive Board. She is a leader in virtual education advocacy at both the state and national levels, dedicated to improving and expanding virtual learning opportunities for students.

Episode Links:

• Blended and Online Learning Discovery (BOLD) of Florida
• Pinellas Virtual School

Host Links:

1. Discover more virtual learning opportunities and resources at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.
2. Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning leverages technology to enhance cultural competence and educational outcomes for teachers and students alike.