Miss Brand, who presented on behalf of Poteau Virtual Academy, told the school board the program has grown into "a thriving student-centered community" that combines online coursework with an in-person learning space and daily support. "We are proud to be serving 93 students currently," Brand said, adding that 32 of those students are new to the district.
Brand described learning zones, teacher offices for one-on-one tutoring, and a teacher-built "pirate portal" that centralizes assignments, announcements and teacher contacts. She said staff at PVA collectively bring roughly 85 years of teaching experience to the program and that the in-person component addresses a common criticism of virtual schooling by offering daily check-ins and tutoring.
Students who attend PVA spoke to the board about flexibility and support. One student said the schedule made it easier to fit sports and extracurriculars into the day; another said PVA helped them develop time-management and accountability skills. Brand noted typical daily activity at the PVA includes on-site help for 15–20 students, dozens of phone calls and regular email contact between teachers and families.
The presentation framed PVA as an alternative pathway for students who need flexibility for health or family reasons, or who thrive in a different pace of instruction. Board members thanked Brand for the report and offered no substantive questions.
The board did not take policy action at the meeting; the presentation was informational and intended to increase familiarity with the program as enrollment grows.