Meet Ben Potter | Senior Instructional Designer and Dean of Students

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Potter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The Covid-19 pandemic played a huge role in our creative thought process. The Mount Vernon School Online is part of the Mount Vernon School, an innovative independent school with an outstanding reputation for engaging students in exciting ways. As we (and pretty much everyone else in education) adjusted to the context of virtual learning during the pandemic, we began to imagine how we could continue to support students in a remote context once restrictions were lifted. Our team decided we would take what makes the Mount Vernon School an amazing in-person experience and translate those qualities to a world-class online high school experience. In doing so, we built our program around two premises: 1.) curiosity and passion drive learning and 2.) relationships are foundational for learning.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets us apart from other online programs is our commitment to flexibility and relationships. It’s difficult to offer both of these components at the same time, but we have succeeded in finding the “sweet spot” that allows us to support students within a fluid, free, and asynchronous learning model. Students develop a strong rapport with their teachers and, in turn, our teachers keep an accurate pulse on students’ needs. We have found success by delivering on this promise and by taking care of students and families first. They know we care about them and that we offer a world-class high school experience. That kind of confidence in our program inspires them to spread the word to other people in their networks. We want the world to know that quality online learning is relational and flexible. We offer a way forward for students and families who are curious about online learning but don’t know where to begin.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Atlanta area has so much to offer, and there’s no way to do it all in a week. Having said that, some highlights would include breakfast at Ria’s Bluebird followed by a casual stroll in Oakland Cemetery (which I can assure our readers is not morbid). After a quick tour of some of the city’s awesome graffiti (including the legendary Krog Street tunnel), we might park the car somewhere near Little Five Points and hunt for some vintage threads at Rag-O-Rama. Having sufficiently worked up an appetite, our group would find its way to Sweet Auburn Market for whatever our hearts and stomachs desired. The afternoon would include a trip to the Battery capped with a Braves game. As for the rest of the week…possibilities are endless. A hike at Pine Mountain is a must. The trails are well-marked and the view from the top is stellar. You also need a day to explore downtown Marietta and the nearby Kennesaw Mountain National Park. There’s so much to do and so little time!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shoutout our students. They entrusted us with their high school experience and we owe our success to them. MVSO students inspire us to imagine how we might continue to offer a world-class education that meets their needs in a complex world. They are outstanding people and it is an honor to serve them.

Website: https://mvschoolonline.org/

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