Teacher Spotlight: Virtual Academy Content Teacher Patrick Navas
Elite Virtual Academy (EVA) students attend weekly online sessions where they receive live instruction and support from teachers and have the opportunity to collaborate with their peers. While students have the freedom to complete their 100% online coursework when and where they want, instructors like their Teacher of Record and Content Teachers help keep them on track with daily reminders, check-ins, tutoring, live instruction and corrective feedback.
One of those Content Teachers that is Mr. Patrick Navas! He is Elite's High School Social Science teacher covering US History, World History, Government, Economics, and World Geography. Needless to say those are very important courses, so Elite is lucky to have Mr. Navas, a 14 year teaching veteran, at the helm. His own love of learning and desire to impart wisdom and knowledge to others was his inspiration for becoming a teacher. His hobbies outside of teaching are weight lifting, writing, reading, soccer, tennis, badminton, and spending time with his three sons!
EVA is 100% online, therefore Mr. Navas has the ability to work from home. He researches and prepares lectures for his students, holds Zoom office hours and is continuously in communication with the students and their Teachers of Record. He fits in grading work throughout his day also! While Elite is very lucky to have him, he told us he's happy to be a part of the team as well.
"The culture among staff is very healthy and supportive. Our administrators always express appreciation for what we do so it feels good and encourages us to keep on keeping on!"
Online, flex and homeschool students do, in fact, communicate with instructors. Here’s how:
The lack of face-to-face instruction might seem like there’s less ability to contact instructors.
But really, online isn’t to blame for effective student-teacher communication. In fact, there are common barriers in communicating within the traditional classroom setting.
For example: If you had one hour to help 30 people, who would you go to first? Likely the ones who grab your attention and ask for help.
With such large class sizes, students must be vocal in order to receive any sort of help. Those who aren’t oftentimes fall through the cracks.
In online or homeschooling, students are able to contact teachers anytime throughout the working day. There are real-time online lectures similar to that of the traditional classroom but that’s just one point of contact–not the main form of interaction.
Here are the different ways students can contact teachers at Elite.
Six ways online and homeschool students communicate with instructors
1. Email
Every educator has an individual email provided to all students at the beginning of each course. This way, students can easily send messages to their teachers and usually get a response within 24 hours or less.
2. Messaging within the school’s online platform
Our Parent Student Portal’s (PSP) messaging isn’t just for connecting with students and making friends in a safe environment, though that is a plus.
Another way to contact teachers for a faster response is through messaging, where students log in to see announcements, check grades, chat with other students and their teachers. In the messaging section of the PSP, students can find their teachers and get a quicker response to a question.
3. Phone call
For an immediate response, students can call teachers on their direct office line and chat with them regarding any questions or concerns.
4. Oftentimes, even a text message
Many of our teachers even offer text messaging, either through personal phones or a Google phone line.
If the instructor offers this option, you will find out at the beginning of class in announcements, or you can always reach out through one of the other communication lines and see if they have texting available.
5. “Live” online sessions
In our online courses, teachers will hold real-time classroom online sessions to instruct the course, answer questions and hold classroom discussions.
If you don’t want to ask questions in the group session, our teachers are more than willing to schedule a one-on-one online session with you to provide tutoring and more personalized instruction.
6. In-person appointments
Parents and students can call their teacher and get in-person support when needed. Of course, you should schedule an in-person appointment ahead of time with your instructor, but an in-person session can be a great way to meet your child’s teacher face to face and get face-to-face support from instructors.
For homeschool students, there are also assigned Elite Educators provide support and even come to your home for an academic consultation.Flex teachers are happy to meet you at your local public library. This occurs every 30 days to evaluate student progress and help keep students on track with their individual educational plans. For more information, head here.
Remember, our teachers are here to help your child succeed. We hope you take advantage of all the communication channels available to you.
