Mission
Smart Horizons Career Online Education is committed to preparing students for entrance into careers and the workplace by delivering high-quality, supportive, and career-based online education.
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Vision
Smart Horizons Career Online Education's vision is to offer adult learners who did not complete high school an affordable, flexible opportunity to learn at their own pace and prepare them for careers and employment based on academic requirements.
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Superintendent's Message
Dear  SHCOE Community:
I am excited about the tremendous potential we have as a school District. When I speak with students, community members, faculty, and staff about our District, it is inspiring to hear their pride and observe their extraordinary personal investment to Smart Horizons Career Online Education (SHCOE).
Our work together requires teamwork, collaboration, and dedication. Our faculty and staff believe in the value of collaboration and communication, and trust that commitment to, and implementation of, continuous improvement leads to improved student achievement.
This past three months, our team has accomplished the following:
- Finalization of SHCOE's AdvancED/SACS Self-Study Report in preparation for our November 15th to 18th accreditation site visit
- Hiring of Academic Support Instructors in the areas of Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies
- Development and implementation of the Student Career Portfolio program
- Hiring of a Data Consultant to help our District collect performance metrics in both SHCOE's core academic and career education programs
- Development of a District-Wide Survey Plan to obtain feedback from both our internal and external stakeholders
I am fortunate to be part of a professional community that approaches its work with optimism and a tremendous sense of possibility. We are bound only by the limits of our talent and our creativity.
Keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
Howard A. Liebman, Ph.D.
Superintendent |
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SHCOE Hires a New Data Consultant to Assist with the Development of a District Data Implementation Plan
Smart Horizons Career Augusto L. Newell, Ph.D., is an expert data analyst and applied researcher. He is currently serving as a consultant to SHCOE, assisting with the development of a data implementation plan in an effort to document student performance and foster effective communication with SHCOE stakeholders.
Having worked as a data analyst with Kaplan Virtual Education (KVE), Dr. Newell is experienced in data collection and reporting for online education providers. Prior to his engagement with KVE, he served as the Coordinator of Research Services for Florida International University's Metropolitan Center, an applied research center focusing on a wide range of urban issues. He gained international experience while working at the Institute of Education, University of London, where he served as the business development and research officer for the NRDC (National Research and Development Centre).
Dr. Newell is an experienced educator, having taught middle school social sciences in the Miami-Dade County Public School system, as well as undergraduate- and graduate-level applied statistics and research methods courses at the FIU School of Policy and Management. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University and his Master's of Science and Doctoral degrees from the FIU School of Policy and Management.
Dr. Newell's research areas of specialization include program evaluations, housing and homelessness, education, social services, organizational performance measurement, and survey research. He currently serves as the Senior Researcher with the Miami-Dade Community College Office of Institutional Research. |
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SHCOE Partners with Daytona College
In SHCOE is pleased to announce a new partnership with Daytona College, located in Ormond Beach, Florida to provide students with an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and articulate into Daytona College's post-secondary programs. SHCOE and Daytona College share common educational goals and objectives, which makes this educational partnership a "textbook" fit for both institutions.
Daytona College strives to provide students with the highest-quality training and a wide range of professional opportunities in order "to offer students the education they need to prepare them for a new career." This philosophy blends perfectly with Smart Horizons Career Online Education's mission and vision.
We are looking forward to a long and successful partnership with Daytona College! |
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SHCOE Adds Career Portfolio Component to Curriculum
The SHCOE has enhanced our already rich online education experience by adding a writing component to the curriculum. The growing population of Smart Horizons Career Online High School (SHCOHS) students will now receive instruction in written communication through a "Career Portfolio" course that relates to both the academic and career aspects of their education.
"The Career Portfolio combines academic and career writing assignments," said Susan McLeod, Lead Academic Coach for SHCOHS. "One is a career component in which the students will learn to produce documents that will help them obtain a job. They will learn how to write a basic letter, how to write a resume, and how to write a thank-you letter and other appropriate correspondence following an interview. The instruction is designed to teach the students how to write effectively and communicate clearly and concisely."
McLeod said that SHCOHS students will also receive instruction in how to locate employment opportunities, both online and through other sources, and how to acquire information about the requirements for employment opportunities.
"The other side of the Career Portfolio is an expository essay component that's more tied to the students' academic coursework as they progress toward their high school diplomas," McLeod said. "In high school, you have to write, and because our courses are predominantly an online experience, we wanted to address our students' writing skills. We're going to walk them through the process step-by-step in teaching the basics of writing a five-paragraph expository essay."
McLeod said the students will be shown how to construct an introductory paragraph, three paragraphs that explain and support the topic, and a concluding paragraph. Students will also learn about transitional devices and how to vary sentences. |
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SHCOE'S 2010-2011 Annual Report to the Community is Available
During the last quarter of each calendar year, Smart Horizons Career Online Education provides its internal and external stakeholders with a comprehensive update on various district-related activities, updates, and accomplishments.
To access the report, please visit our Web site at www.shcoe.org |
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AdvancED/SACS District Accreditation Site Visit Scheduled for November 15-18 
Smart Horizons Career Online Education is scheduled to host our AdvancED/SACS Quality Assurance Review (QAR) visit from November 16th to November 18th, which will be comprised of trained education professionals from across the nation.
AdvancED is the unified organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). AdvancED provides nationally recognized accreditation for school districts and individual schools and represents 27,000 public and private schools and districts across the United States and in 65 countries worldwide, educating 15 million students. |
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