Virtual Teaching: The New Post-Pandemic Trend
In the post-pandemic period, an increasing number of teachers are leaving traditional schools and choosing to work in virtual schools. Educators emphasize that online education provides significant advantages not only for students but also for teachers, particularly in terms of achieving work-life balance.
Molly Hamill, who teaches at California Virtual Academies, says virtual teaching allows her to plan lessons more creatively and flexibly. Courtney Entsminger, a teacher at Virginia Connections Academy, adds that online education helps her balance motherhood with her profession: “Now I can drop my daughter off at school, make her breakfast. On the same day, I can be both a mom and a teacher.”
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2.5 percent of K-12 students were enrolled full-time in virtual education during the 2022–2023 school year. In the same period, the number of teachers delivering online instruction also grew. K12, a subsidiary of Stride Inc., increased its teaching staff from 6,500 to 8,000, while Pearson’s Connections Academy achieved a 91 percent teacher retention rate.
Experts note that the popularity of virtual education is influenced by teachers’ desire to raise their own children from home, more flexible working hours, and the safer learning environment it provides. They also highlight that classroom management and discipline issues are easier to handle in virtual settings. Although the virtual education model requires certain adjustments, it is becoming an increasingly attractive option for both teachers and students.