Michigan Virtual

Many districts are doing the work. The challenge is making sure it all connects.

In Article 1 of a new two-part series, School Design Strategist, Dr. Tovah Sheldon, explores how alignment and coherence can help leaders see their systems more clearly and make more informed decisions about what to do next, using seven powerful metaphors as practical diagnostic tools.
Which metaphor resonates most with where your district is right now? Share your answer in the comments.

Read the full article here:

Choosing Your Next Right Move: How Metaphors Help District Leaders Build Alignment and Coherence in Their Complex Systems Many districts are doing ambitious transformation work, yet one of the most common risks is not lack of effort. It is fragmentation. This article explores how alignment and coherence, brought to life through seven powerful metaphors, can help leaders see their systems more clearly and make better de...

New year, new students, same compliance deadlines.

If you still have training to complete before the school year gets away from you, there’s no better time than right now!. Our free and low-cost online compliance courses are self-paced, so you can get in, get trained, and get back to what matters most: your students.

Don’t let this be the one thing still left on your to-do list. Enroll now: https://hubs.la/Q04wDRbH0

Professional Courses Access our AI Integration Framework, Planning Guide for AI, as well as many other resources to help you navigate the ever-changing world of artificial intelligence!

How is AI changing the way students and educators experience connection, stress, and well-being?

Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 23rd, at the MASA 2026 Fall Conference from 3:45-5:00 PM, join Dr. Tovah Sheldon and colleagues for AI and Mental Health: Help, Harm and Human Connection, an interactive session exploring the emerging realities at the intersection of AI and mental health.

Come ready to share your perspective, make sense of what we’re seeing across education, and help shape a statewide conversation about creating healthier, more human-centered schools. We hope you’ll join the conversation!

What happens when you let students choose their own path? For Erica Gorzen’s students, it means going from simple to more complex tasks and building the kind of confidence that lasts well beyond the classroom.

Erica is an art teacher at Portland High School and Michigan Department of Education’s 2026-2027 Region 3 Teacher of the Year. Her approach to choice-based learning in her classroom is something worth reading and celebrating!

Check out her full story here:

From Simple Squares to Sweaters: How One Teacher Uses Crochet to Build Confidence When Erica Gorzen’s students pick up a crochet hook, they choose their own path. Some make simple squares. Others create sweaters and stuffed toys. As the 2026-2027 Regional Teacher of the Year, this Portland High School art teacher shares how choice-based lessons help her students build confidenc...

Some students already know what they want to do next. Michigan Virtual's Career Pathways give them a way to start, with course sequences that prepare students for industry certification exams in fields like insurance, cybersecurity, information technology, and agriscience. Your student takes them online, alongside their regular school schedule. Explorer Career pathways: https://hubs.la/Q04xC4N30

An opioid overdose can happen anywhere, including in your school. Knowing how to respond could save a life.

Our course, Opioid Overdose Prevention for School Professionals, is designed to equip educators and school staff with the tools they need to respond with confidence. You will learn to recognize the signs of overdose, administer naloxone, and help reduce the stigma around substance use in your school community.

From now until November 1, 2026, this 3-SCECH course is available for free! Enroll now: https://hubs.la/Q04xQ9Lc0

Fall schedules keep evolving, and there's still room to add to yours. Michigan Virtual offers online courses your student can take alongside their regular school schedule, with options across AP, world languages, career pathways, electives, and more. Explore courses: https://hubs.la/Q04xBWm80

Let’s be honest - managing relationships with coworkers (or students) can be complex. This course helps you navigate these relationships with confidence.

Achieving Success with Difficult People is a 24-hour, self-paced course that provides practical tools for communicating more effectively, especially in more challenging situations. You will learn how to view situations from multiple perspectives, identify patterns in your own interactions, and respond in ways that support you and the relationship.

Earn 24 SCECHs and enroll today: https://hubs.la/Q04wDTrW0

Our free and low-cost online compliance courses are self-paced and built with busy educators in mind. Check what you need off the list without the headache or the high price tag.

Bloodborne pathogens, fire safety, FERPA/HIPAA, CPR, emergency response, and more. We have the compliance training your school needs, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Browse all available courses and enroll today: https://hubs.la/Q04wDSg-0

Professional Courses Access our AI Integration Framework, Planning Guide for AI, as well as many other resources to help you navigate the ever-changing world of artificial intelligence!