My name is Lauren McKay and I have been involved in education in some capacity for over 15 years. I have my Bachelor of Science degree in English Education with a minor in Italian Gothic Noir literature from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia where I graduated in 2012. I have taught all ages ranging from 18 months old to 22 years old and all abilities ranging from profound special needs to gifted students. Currently, I am getting my Intervention Specialist endorsement from the state of Ohio and after that I am looking forward to pursuing my Master’s Degree in Educational Theory and Curriculum Development at Ohio State University. Education has been and continues to be a passion in my life and I look forward to teaching at Valor Academy of Ohio this year.
The 2021 – 2022 school year promises to be an exciting one! While we continue the battle against COVID – 19 and its aftermath, the world of education continues growing to incorporate different learning styles and modes of allowing students access to their education. Valor Academy offers a true hybrid learning model that allows teachers to receive information from their students in real time, allowing us to create material that our students can engage with and form real world connections to their learning based on their assessments of the knowledge from the curriculum. At Valor we feel that who our students become is just as important as what they learn. We focus on character education and social emotional learning throughout the day which is vital in helping our students succeed after they finish their schooling years and enter into a world that they can create for themselves.
This year I am very excited to be a part of a flipped classroom where the students and I can engage in learning together by spending our afternoons applying the knowledge that we learned in the morning. This allows students to have hands-on help and experience with the curriculum while a teacher is present in the classroom to offer any needed assistance. I am excited to work with the students to help them unlock their full potential and help them exceed their own expectations.
Education is a powerful tool that can help our students become whatever they want to be, and it is an honor to help them along their journey of self-discovery.