In a traditional education setting, students all follow the same curriculum throughout the year. The teacher plans a single lesson and the class takes the same test at the same time. However, the Miami School does things a little differently, and science teacher Lauren Ermlich likes it that way.
Lauren began teaching seven years ago in Georgia. Her first year was spent in the traditional classroom, but since then, she has taught in non-traditional settings, with the past five years being here in Hamilton at the Miami School.
“When I interviewed around the area, Hamilton just felt like it was the right place,” Lauren said. “They’re very student centered and they want everybody to succeed.”
The Miami School itself was officially established two years ago. Prior to that, their blended learning program was known as the Hope program, designed to give high school students another way to earn their credits. By mixing online curriculums with in-class instruction, the program allows students to work at their own pace, but always have a teacher to guide them if needed.
There are about 100 students ranging from grades 9-12 on the Miami School roster this year. The roster is split between four teachers who each cover different subject matter; Lauren’s science class is one. That means 100 students rotate through Lauren’s class each day, all at different places in their coursework. Lauren finds that being on a block schedule allows her the ability to focus more on each individual student more.
“I like that kids are able to come in, spend their own time on it and progress at their own pace,” she said.
There are many perks to being in a blended learning program such as this. One is that it gives students who are credit deficient, or who want to graduate early, an opportunity to attain their credits faster. Each student has the ability to work on their programs on their own timeline, even attending their classes year round if they so choose.
Lauren began paying special attention to her academics at a young age.
“My mom would always say I had to finish my homework before I did my chores,” Lauren remembered. “So, I was that person who would ask the teacher for more homework so I didn’t have to do chores.”
As she got older, she knew she had a deep set interest in science. When she enrolled in college courses, she declared herself a biology major. While she was enjoying the coursework, she had trouble deciding how exactly she wanted to use that degree. She explored different options, including the medical field, but none seemed to be the perfect fit. Then she decided to try education.
“They put me in middle school first,” she said. “I walked into the room and all the kids started crying because they thought their teacher wasn’t coming back. By the end of it, they were all crying again because they didn’t want me to leave.”
Lauren eventually felt that she fit best as a high school educator, but she likes the flexibility of the online schedules, and the insight it gives to the circumstances under which students are enrolled at the Miami School.
“We have more of that personal relationship with kids, with knowing what’s going on with them outside of school,” Lauren said.
She enjoys the difference in the instruction style while at the same time acknowledging that it is, in itself, the biggest challenge.
“The biggest disconnect with parents is that they don’t understand our program,” she explained.
Since the program is a ‘work at your own pace’ kind of thing, it does not follow the same timeline when it comes to midterms and finals. Lauren recommends that parents familiarize themselves with the blended learning style to help things run as smoothly as possible.
In the meantime, Lauren is there to help students and parents alike navigate the program to fit their own individual needs.