Voices of Virtual School Leaders: Challenges and Advice

• In Event: Initiating and Delivering Virtual Programs for Student Learning

Abstract

As virtual schools grow in number and in the scope of offerings, school leaders are faced with issues and decisions that have implications for finance, policy, and practice. However, little research exists on best practices for virtual school leaders, their experiences, and their background. This study examined the professional and personal backgrounds, experiences, and skills of 15 virtual school leaders at k-12 schools accredited by AdvancEd. Interviews of these virtual school leaders point to the need for virtual school leaders to be extremely adaptable in their use of time, personnel, and resources, and for pre-service administrator programs to train their students for virtual school leadership.

Authors

• Dennis Beck, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

• Jason LaFrance, Georgia Southern University

• Jayson W. Richardson, University of Kentucky