Miami pioneers virtual Catholic education

By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -

MIAMI | AP chemistry, Chinese, human geography, theology and more: such is the varied curriculum offered to today’s high school students. The more options the better, because students are preparing earlier and more in-depth for college and future careers.

But what if a course is not available due to insufficient enrollment or lack of faculty expertise. What is a student or school to do?

The Archdiocese of Miami offers a solution: a virtual Catholic school � ADOM-VCS � where students can enroll on a semester basis, either full or part-time, based on their academic needs.

“As long as I have one student interested in a course, I can offer the course,” said Rebeca Bautista, principal of the ADOM-VCS. “Whether it’s an AP course or a PE course, we offer any course.”

Entering its fifth year, ADOM-VCS is the only AdvancEd/SACS accredited and archdiocesan-supported virtual Catholic school in the United States. It has the blessing of the archdiocese’s superintendent of schools, Kim Pryzbylski, as well as Archbishop Thomas Wenski and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The school is also registered with the Florida Department of Education and The College Board, which recognizes ADOM-VCS’ curriculum, credit recovery courses and high school diploma.

“I think the virtual school under the leadership of Rebeca has taken a new direction because she is willing to meet any school or diocesan need,” said Pryzbylski. “She listens to people’s issues and she works with them to accomplish the task of educating children.”

The evolution of schooling

Since ADOM-VCS was first established, Bautista has seen the program grow from six students to about 200.

Although she supports her school, she also encourages students and their families not to abandon their traditional brick and mortar schools. The idea is for ADOM-VCS to step in when a school cannot cover a student’s unique curriculum requirements in an actual classroom.

“If our enrollment is going up that means Virtual is helping other Catholic schools,” Bautista said.

Virtual schooling also works for students who are travelling for a brief period, but do not want to fall behind academically; or those who, due to illness, are unable to be present in the classroom.

‘Not robotic’

Current ADOM-VCS faculty are teachers within the Archdiocese of Miami, many from Msgr. Edward Pace High School, the virtual school’s home base. Through their online portal, teachers introduce themselves and reach out to students, bridging the physical distance between them.

“It’s not robotic,” Bautista said. “In our opinion we really try to make it as personal as we can with the limitation obviously that, yes, we will probably never meet (students) in person. But sometimes we get to know them a little bit more because students tend to feel more comfortable sharing about themselves online.”

Tools like webinars, webcams, social media, email and more make communication easier.

Parental involvement is encouraged. They can attend orientation, monitor what their child is learning and doing, and communicate with teachers.

“Sometimes parents think that it’s just a student in front of a computer, and although yes, that is what it is, a lot of schools are trying to make it more than that,” said Bautista.

She herself is a product of online learning and virtual education. She received her master’s degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University online, and is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in instructional leadership, also online, from Nova. Her areas of concentration are curriculum development and design.

“I am an online learner and I believe in it,” said Bautista.

For homeschoolers

ADOM-VCS is the only online school that offers a truly Catholic curriculum, whereas other virtual schools are faith-based but not Catholic. Bautista believes this works especially well for the “large Catholic homeschool community.”

The ADOM-VCS’ theology courses for middle and high school students were created from scratch by archdiocesan teachers. The curriculum for elementary level students is still under construction.

Once enrolled in ADOM-VCS, the only requirement is internet access. Students can log in from their homes, a hotel, a library, or just about anywhere at any time. They have deadlines for completing coursework and turning in assignments. But Bautista warns that procrastinating is not a good idea.

“The misconception is that virtual education is easier,” she said. “It’s not easier in academic expectation. We’re a fully accredited school. If you’re going to earn half a credit from us, you’re going to do the work that merits half a credit.”

Global impact

Although ADOM-VCS is locally based, its reach is spreading throughout Florida and other states, as near as Alabama and as far as Hawaii. The program recently enrolled students from the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos.

“What we enjoy the most as a faculty is that we are able to reach students that we would never be able to reach before,” said Bautista. “I never thought that I would be able to help a student in Hawaii, or Oregon, California, Alabama, Delaware, never. I always thought I would make an impact here. Now we’re able to make an impact here and an impact globally.”

According to Bautista, the virtual school also allows students and faculty to blur the lines of distance by exchanging stories, photos and videos during special occasions � such as Catholic Schools Week at the end of January.

“I think it’s just very exciting for the Archdiocese of Miami as a whole to be the pioneers in being the only Catholic online school,” Bautista said.

• See related story: Turks and Caicos students graduate from ADOM virtual school

• For more information, visit www.adomvirtual.com or call 305-508-5556.