By STEPHANIE BUNKER
Moapa Valley Progress
Parents of local school children gathered at the Old Logandale School for a School Choice Fair held on Monday, Feb. 25. Organized by the local chapter of Power 2 Parent, the fair brought together a variety of educational options in one place so that parents could gather information and view the many alternatives available in educating their children.
Power 2 Parent is a non-profit organization focused on protecting parent’s rights. The group started in Las Vegas. A local chapter was organized last year.
Local Power 2 Parent officials explained that the fair was put together to talk to local parents about school options.
“We chose each facet of schools such as charter schools or public schools that makes the most sense for people living out here in Moapa Valley,” said local mom and Power 2 Parent member Erin Francom. “And we had several options in different categories.”
The Latter-Day Learning Family School is a homeschool group represented by local community members that attended the event. Emily Mortensen found this school to be the perfect fit for her children for the last 12 years.
“I love the academic and religious values and aspects of the curriculum,” Mortensen said. “It helps them to love learning and be free thinking citizens.”
Other homeschools represented were The Good and the Beautiful, Homeschool Buffet, Leadership Education Mentoring Institute and Homeschool Guru.
Homeschool Guru showcased their hands-on learning through a scrapbook. Denise Kerrigan, head teacher, explained how the kids got a feel for the French revolution by coming to school hungry while watching their teachers eat cake and other yummy food.
“The kids were complaining saying it wasn’t fair,” Kerrigan said. “And I told them, you’re right it wasn’t fair! That’s how the French felt too!”
Attending charter schools had a few options. Parents have the opportunity to be a part of a new charter school in Moapa Valley and can put in their opinion on how the school should be run.
Pennie Rumsey was inspired a few weeks ago to look into creating a charter school. Soon she gathered information and was told she could start it up by this coming August.
“I need to gather a number of students Kindergarten through 12th grade who want to be involved,” she said. “Things have played out so quickly I feel like it’s guided.”
Another charter option is Nevada Connections Academy. This online charter school already has 3,300 students.
“We send families the technology they need and they are taught by state certified teachers,” Jamie Smith, representative of Nevada Connections Academy, said.
Nevada State High School is also a charter school. This school provides dual credits where the kids take high school and college classes.
Private schools in attendance at the Fair included Journey Education, Mesquite Christian Academy and GO EXL Academy.
April Taggart, Principal of Journey Education, said they are a small private Christian school.
“Something that sets us apart is our blended learning model,” she said.
She explained that if a student excels in math she will be bumped up to the next level. But if she doesn’t do well in English the student would move down a level and get three extra hours a week in that course. Taggart said that this model really works.
Several of the public schools in Moapa Valley were in attendance including Mack Lyon Middle School and Perkins Elementary. Perkins showcased the Virtual Reality goggles they use at their school. Assistant Principal Kelby Robison explained that the goggles are used as study tools and to give incentives.
“If the class is studying Spain, they can put on the goggles and go to Spain,” Robison said. “Or, if they are studying anatomy they can go inside a heart and watch the valves opening and closing.”
Among the schools was another facet of learning for teens and adults. Overton resident Ben Muhlestein has created an educational model called George Washington Character Curricula.
“The intent is to truly build character within the young men and young women,” Muhlestein explained. “The time has come to look back to the writings that built great leaders.”
Muhlestein’s program highlights classic literature and uses it to study key elements and help students apply the concepts to their own lives.
