Volusia teacher makes remote learning work for gifted 5th graders
Vicki Fritz’s head is just visible over the top of her computer monitor in the back of the room. The portable at Tomoka Elementary school classroom is … empty?
Upon closer inspection, an entire class of fifth graders is on Fritz’s computer screen 13 squares that show a glimpse of a student’s home. Their voices filter in through a speaker under the window, turned up to give the illusion that they’re right there with her.
Fritz is teaching fifth grade gifted students from around the district who would otherwise not be able to participate in the advanced program from home. It’s a regional Volusia Live class and she loves it.
Greg Schwartz at the Grand Canyon in a 2018 picture he posted to Facebook. He’s been named principal of Flagler Palm Coast High School.
Last Updated: 12:57 p.m.
Flagler County superintendents’ recent habit of using Volusia County as an Eldorado of potential principals for its two high schools is continuing as Greg Schwartz, Principal at South Daytona Elementary, today was named principal at Flagler Palm Coast High School. Schwartz replaces Tom Russell, the popular and charismatic principal who’d led FPC for less than two years by the time of his death from covid last December.
Schwartz, one of 38 candidates to apply for the FPC post, is the fourth Volusia candidate in the last four years to be named principal at one of Flagler’s two high schools, starting with Jeff Reaves at Matanzas High School in 2016, followed by Bob Wallace–a former boss of Schwartz’s–and Russell at FPC. But Schwartz, an Ormond Beach resident, has intimate connections to Flagler and FPC in partic
Brooklyn Freer has never been much of a talker. Her mom had to pry just to hear about her day, she hated to talk about her feelings, and she didn’t like school that much.
So when she had to transfer from a private school to Pine Trail Elementary in Ormond Beach for the third grade, her mom was worried. Thanks to Brooklyn’s teacher Jenny Haney, she soon realized she didn’t need to be.
“She’s so different now,” said her mom, Alexis Freer. “She’s saying stuff that I can’t believe is coming from her. She’s grown up so much just from the short time she’s been with (Mrs. Haney).”