What It Takes to Run One of America’s Largest Virtual Schools With Kris Stewart
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
Release Date: 07/30/2025
What It Takes to Run One of America’s Largest Virtual Schools With Kris Stewart
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
Kris Stewart leads Ohio Virtual Academy, the largest high school in the state and one of just two virtual schools in the U.S. with a RAMP-certified counseling program. With 17,000 students and 750 staff, she’s proving that online learning can deliver real connection, support, and results. In this episode, Kris joins Kevin to share how her team tracks student well-being daily, supports mental health with wraparound services, and helps students earn industry credentials before they even graduate. She also explains how AI, co-teaching pods, and intentional leadership keep students engaged and...
info_outline
How MedCerts Is Training Teens for In-Demand Healthcare Jobs With Jennifer Kolb
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
In this episode, Kevin sits down with Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Workforce Development at MedCerts, to examine a growing question: What if college isn’t the only path to a good career? They dive into how MedCerts is helping high school students land well-paying jobs in healthcare—no four-year degree required. From AI-powered training to employer-backed certifications, Jen shares how this new model is reshaping how students prepare for work, and why school systems—and employers—are paying attention. They also unpack the rise of career exploration in high school, how virtual...
info_outline
Can AI Tutors Fix What Schools Can’t? With Vida C. Williams
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
In this episode, Kevin sits down with Vida Williams, Chief Data Officer at Stride, to explore the promise—and risks—of artificial intelligence in education. From personalized tutoring to curatorial learning, they dive into how AI is reshaping what it means to teach, learn, and build trust in a digital world. They discuss how AI can reduce teacher overload, personalize instruction, and expand access—but also unpack why how we build it matters as much as what we build. And in a world where machines are getting better at guiding student learning, they ask a fundamental question: What’s...
info_outline
The Tax Bill That Could Change American Education with John Schilling
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
Public dollars. Private schools. Political firestorms. In this episode, Kevin talks with long-time school choice advocate John Schilling about what happens when education funding follows the student instead of the system. They dig into the proposed federal scholarship tax credit: what it is, who it helps, and why supporters say it's about opportunity—not ideology. Opponents fear it's the beginning of the end for public schools. Advocates say it's already helping students, especially those in underserved communities. From Florida’s model programs to Washington’s sharp divisions, this...
info_outline
Encore: How can teachers maintain their passion for the profession?
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
We’re re-releasing this episode because the questions it raises are more relevant than ever. In 2025, as technology transforms how students learn and entire industries evolve, the role of educators is shifting rapidly. Classrooms are becoming more digital, expectations more complex, and the pressure to keep students engaged—and prepared for the future—has never been greater. Yet, many teachers are stepping away. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half of public education employees who leave the field aren’t retiring or laid off. They’re choosing to resign. Amid...
info_outline
Encore | Can Summer Learning Programs Combat the Summer Slide?
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
This is an encore episode — and with good reason. As the school year winds down and summer approaches, the “summer slide” — the loss of academic progress over the break — becomes a very real concern once again. Without intentional learning opportunities, students can lose ground they’ve worked hard to gain, making each new year harder than the last. In this conversation, Kevin revisits a timely discussion with Aaron Dworkin, CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, about how the right summer programs don’t just prevent learning loss — they help students come back...
info_outline
How to Help Your Teen Choose the Right Career Path with Allison Danielsen, CEO of Tallo
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
College. Careers. Credentials. Teens today are facing big decisions—and most don’t even know where to start. In this episode, Kevin P.Chavous talks with Allison Danielsen, CEO of Tallo, about why the old ways of guiding students—career quizzes, outdated job charts, one-size-fits-all advice—no longer cut it. Allison’s team is building a digital career co-pilot designed to help Gen Z explore real career paths, learn relevant skills, and connect directly with schools, scholarships, and employers. They discuss why most career journeys aren’t linear (including Allison’s own winding...
info_outline
How to Make Your Child Love STEM | Eric Olsen
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
During lockdown, a math teacher and his son 3D-printed a board game on their kitchen table. Now it’s transforming how students feel about math—and school in general. In this episode, Eric Olsen, principal of Idaho Technical Career Academy, joins Kevin to share how his creative approach to teaching, including developing innovative tools like the board game “Glyphics,” inspires students and shapes the future of education. Jump to: 03:09 – School Without Walls 04:48 – Future-Proof Pathways 05:11 – Glyphic: Born on a Kitchen Table 07:30 – Pictionary for People Who Hate Math 08:26...
info_outline
Jenny Kendall on How to Build IEPs That Truly Support Every Student
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
Fluorescent lights. Constant noise. Rigid schedules. For a lot of kids with special needs, school was less a place to learn and more a daily test of endurance. In this episode, Jenny Kendall—a national leader in special education—joins Kevin to talk about what happens when you take students out of a system that was never designed for them and build something better. Virtual learning isn’t a compromise. For many, it’s a relief. They get into how online education strips away environmental distractions, how real success hinges on teamwork between families and educators, and why AI and...
info_outline
How Virtual Tutoring is Making Education More Accessible with Jennifer Moore
What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous
Since the pandemic, the demand for online tutoring has surged by 200%, with families seeking flexible, effective, and accessible academic support for their children. But does virtual tutoring truly measure up to in-person sessions? Research from the Annenberg Institute and Johns Hopkins University suggests that well-designed virtual tutoring can significantly boost student performance—often rivaling traditional face-to-face methods. So, what sets the most effective virtual tutoring programs apart? And beyond academics, can they build confidence and spark a love for learning? To explore these...
info_outlineKris Stewart leads Ohio Virtual Academy, the largest high school in the state and one of just two virtual schools in the U.S. with a RAMP-certified counseling program. With 17,000 students and 750 staff, she’s proving that online learning can deliver real connection, support, and results.
In this episode, Kris joins Kevin to share how her team tracks student well-being daily, supports mental health with wraparound services, and helps students earn industry credentials before they even graduate. She also explains how AI, co-teaching pods, and intentional leadership keep students engaged and why real student success starts with paying attention.
If you want to understand what virtual education looks like at scale and how to do it right this is the episode to hear.
Chapters
00:00 – OHVA is one of two RAMP-certified virtual schools
01:35 – Kristin’s path into teaching and leadership
04:00 – Leading a school of 17,000 with care and purpose
07:00 – Supporting student mental health
12:00 – Building real community online
14:00 – Why engagement starts with adults
17:00 – Using AI and teaching critical thinking
21:00 – Career paths, certifications, and job readiness
25:00 – Kristin’s vision for modern education
Join the Conversation
Share your thoughts with #WIWTK
Follow us:
Twitter/X – @wiwtkpodcast
Facebook – facebook.com/wiwtkpodcast
Instagram – @wiwtkpodcast
Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review and help us rethink what school can be.