ONLINE LEARNING CONSTANTLY EVOLVING
FCAO Gets New Director, Drop-In Center
S
tephanie Reilly is the new online
learning coordinator for the Fox Chapel
Area School District, but that’s not the
only change for students enrolled in
Fox Chapel Area Online (FCAO).
Fox Chapel Area’s online learners now have
access to a brand-new drop-in center at the high
school, which opened in January.
“The drop-in center will be a great help for
FCAO students,” Mrs. Reilly said. “We designed
the room to be relaxing and inviting, with
comfortable chairs and interesting lighting, all to
create a welcoming space for students to settle in
and work on their classes.”
One major advantage for FCAO students is
that when they visit the drop-in center, they’ll
be able to work directly with their teachers. Fox
Chapel Area High School faculty members are
available in the drop-in center all day Tuesdays
and Thursdays, as well as every day during QRT
(Quality Resource Time).
Science teacher Jessica Papariello and the district’s online learning coordinator, Stephanie
Reilly, work with a Fox Chapel Area Online student.
“That just isn’t possible with outside cyber charter schools,”
Mrs. Reilly said. “It takes away the mystery of the online
teacher who seems to live in cyberspace.”
Students enrolled in FCAO can choose from a wide range
of classes, including all core courses, business law, personal
finance, SAT prep, psychology, environmental science, college
and career essentials, art history, physical education, health,
world languages, keyboarding, and more.
Another reason that FCAO stands apart from brick-and-
mortar charter schools and other online programs is that
FCAO students retain all the benefits of being Fox Chapel
Area students, such as the ability to participate in the clubs,
activities, and sports teams at both Dorseyville Middle School
and the high school, Mrs. Reilly said.
In addition, FCAO offers “full flexibility” for its students,
allowing them to create a schedule that suits them best. That
includes coming to school late or leaving early, if they have an
after-school job, for example.
“We have a lot of students who are ‘Fifth Period Flex’
students, which means they have a full course load in school
plus take an additional class online,” Mrs. Reilly said. “The
choice is up to the student and their family.”
“The best thing is being able to do it on your own time,”
echoed senior Anna Folkerts, who took gym and personal
finance through FCAO. “It’s definitely very helpful for people
who have tight schedules.”
Mrs. Reilly, who began working at Fox Chapel Area in January,
hopes that students will benefit from her diverse background.
She started her career as a nuclear engineer before returning
to school to get her teaching certificate.
Prior to arriving at Fox Chapel Area, she
taught in the Norwin and Plum school
districts.
Among Mrs. Reilly’s goals for her first
year leading FCAO are to get to know
the students and families who participate
in the program and to help her online
learners find a niche.
Fox Chapel Area Online students can visit the drop-in center to meet with their teachers and
interact with other online learners.
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FOX CHAPEL AREA
“I want to reach out and make sure the
online students, particularly the students
who are not in the building, know of
all of the amazing things going on in
the district, so they take advantage of
everything available to them,” she said.
“The high school has over 95 clubs and I
know there is something for everyone.”