iLEAD Academy is one of five schools nationwide competing as a finalist for a $200,000 Rural Technology Challenge grant through the U.S. Department of Education.
The school received phase one of the grant, $100,000, in 2020 after proposing creation of a virtual computer science academy. Since that time, they have worked to refine and expand their program and were featured as a finalist for Phase 2, another $100,000, in Washington, D.C. this summer.
iLEAD staff and its partners gave an eight minute presentation on the virtual computer science academy and then answered questions from an expert judging panel. The winner will be announced in September.
“Our idea was to do virtual because kids don’t have the opportunity for it at their high schools,” said iLEAD Academy Director Jenna Gray. Students will earn college credits as well as industry certifications.
The school, which includes students from five counties, got help from an advisory board of industry leaders and the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati, to plan its curriculum and offerings. iLEAD works regularly with the INTERalliance, a non-profit organization that promotes exploration of information technology (IT) careers.
“They helped us figure out what was needed from an industry standpoint,” Gray said. “Data science was one of the main things they needed.”
Carroll County Schools Superintendent Casey Jaynes added, “As we think about the future of education in our #vision2035, we believe that virtual learning along with advancements in AI and project based learning, will be what drives education in the future. These will provide opportunities to our students that may not be possible in the traditional model of school.”
Through the virtual program, iLEAD students were able to complete virtual job shadowing, mock interviews and participate in the Future 42 mentorship program.
Gray said it was “pretty awesome” to participate in the finalist presentations. “I was just a clicker but it was still awesome to be there,” she said with a smile.
They presented at the Eisenhower Building, which is next to the White House. “That’s one of my favorite buildings. It’s just beautiful,” she said. The group gave its presentation in the same room that the Secretary of State gives press briefings, Gray noted.
iLEAD’s presentation was given by Alica Sells, director of innovation, community and marketing for the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, Heather Ackles, community partner with INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati, Kevin Kirby, dean of informatics at Northern Kentucky University, Jenna Gray, director of iLEAd Academy and Eric Gray, computer science teacher at iLEAD Academy.
