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Design and Refine Your Program

Engagement and Belonging in a Virtual Public School

Monday, February 24, 2025
2:10 PM – 2:30 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: A703
Session Type: Contributed Talk

    Presenter(s)

  • PL

    Patrick Lattuca, III, n/a

    Superintendent
    The Education Cooperative Connections Academy (TECCA)
    East Walpole, MA, United States

  • HN

    Heidi Nelson-Buffa

    Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Accountability
    The Education Cooperative Connections Academy (TECCA)
    East Walpole, Massachusetts, United States

  • Jean e. Kenney (she/her/hers)

    TECCA Board Member, Treasurer
    The Education Cooperative Connections Academy (TECCA)
    East Walpole, MA, United States

  • GM

    Grace Magley (she/her/hers)

    TECCA School Board Member, Secretary
    The Education Cooperative Connections Academy (TECCA)
    East Walpole, MA, United States

  • Peter Sanchioni

    TECCA Board Member, Board Chair
    The Education Cooperative Connections Academy (TECCA)
    East Walpole, MA, United States

If you selected Cutting-Edge, what innovative ideas, approaches, or methodologies will your session introduce or explore?:

Abstract Description :

By transforming welcome calls into dynamic group sessions, our virtual public school fosters strong student connections, a sense of belonging, and more active family involvement from the start. Our updated virtual homeroom model functions like a traditional advisory program, empowering students to build meaningful peer relationships and engage closely with teachers regularly. We've also introduced a comprehensive, tiered engagement support system to improve attendance, allowing teachers to focus on delivering impactful and personalized instruction. Additionally, we're enhancing our learning coach mentor program to offer personalized support, ensuring families receive the guidance and resources they need to succeed throughout the year.

If someone was doing a search for your session in the program what 5 words might they use to search for and find your session.: Engagement
Community
Homeroom
Attendance
Portrait of a Graduate

Learning Objectives:

  • At the end of this session, participants will be able to identify ways to engage families throughout the school year, and discuss how to foster a sense of community and belonging within their districts.
  • At the end of this session, participants will be able to describe strategies for enhancing student engagement, demonstrate effective practices for improving attendance, list the benefits of group welcome sessions in relation to building community, and engage students throughout the school year.
  • At the end of this session, participants will have learned new strategies to engage virtual school students.