Virtual Public School Teacher from Tualatin Named Civic Scholar

Mill City—“I'm absolutely thrilled and honored to be named a 2016-17 Civic Scholar,” said Nikki Coleman, Oregon Connections Academy (ORCA) high school electives teacher and Student Government advisor from Tualatin. Coleman was recently chosen by State Representative Julie Parrish (House District 37- Tualatin/West Linn) to be a 2016-17 Civic Scholar as part of a program run by the Classroom Law Project. Coleman lives in Representative Parrish’s House District.

Coleman will be one of several Civics Scholars attending the second annual Civics Conference at the State Capitol in Salem on Friday December 2nd sponsored by the Classroom Law Project for educators at all levels.

Coleman is one of the two Student Government advisors who helped launch ORCA’s first ever Student Government program this fall. “I was always very involved in student government when I was in high school, and I think it's extremely important for students to have a platform and a voice so that they can also feel involved at an early age.” Oregon Connections Academy is the leading virtual public charter school for students in grades K-12 across the state.

Legislators from around Oregon can each name two exceptional teachers from their respective districts to be their Civic Scholars. The idea was generated by a statewide initiative to enhance high quality professional development in civic education for teachers.

In 2015 the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2955 declaring the first Friday of December each year to be Oregon Civics Day for Teachers. According to the law, the goal of Civics Day for Teachers is to “give teachers the opportunity to learn about civics in Oregon for the purpose of assisting them in providing high-quality instruction in civics.”

During the Civics Conference participants can hear from master teachers, attend several workshops and will even have a session in the Chambers of the Oregon Senate.

“At the conference, I'm most excited to meet and learn from master teachers. I'm also really looking forward to sharing my work in the online school community with others, so that we can improve upon what we are doing with Student Government at Oregon Connections Academy,” explained Coleman.

“As a Student Government advisor, I'm able to help give students a chance to inform themselves, inform others, and get their opinions out there,” added Coleman. “Obviously, with today's political environment, students are surrounded by civics lessons daily, but it is crucial to help them understand how these things work so that they can be responsible leaders for our future.”

Teachers who attend the conference will receive an insider’s view of government, from those who make laws to those who interpret them, including information from elected officials, judges, scholars and other experts. Teachers selected to be Civic Scholars not only receive admission to the Civics Conference, but also special recognition at the event and follow-up classroom assistance.

Coleman has been teaching for 13 years, the past two of which were at Oregon Connections Academy. Prior to ORCA, she taught at West Linn High School for ten years and Oregon City High for one year. Coleman and her husband have an 18-month old daughter.

To learn additional details about the Civics Conference visit the Classroom Law Project website www.classroomlaw.org

For more information about the ORCA visit www.OregonConnectionsAcademy.com or call (800) 382-6010.

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About Oregon Connections Academy

Oregon Connections Academy (ORCA) is a tuition-free, high-quality, highly accountable statewide online charter school that serves students in grades K–12. The school is authorized by the Santiam Canyon School District. All Oregon Connections Academy students participate in the award-winning national Connections Academy program that combines high-quality resources from leading publishers with cutting-edge yet easy-to-use technology and hands-on materials. Oregon Connections Academy provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere there is an Internet connection and with an innovative online school curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. The combination of Oregon-certified teachers, a proven curriculum, unique electives, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. Oregon Connections Academy is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), an accrediting division of AdvancED. For more information, call 800-382-6010, or visit http://www.OregonConnectionsAcademy.com.

Laura Dillon, Outreach Manager

Oregon Connections Academy

(503) 779-3150 ldillon@orca.connectionsacademy.org