Teacher urges board to create a digital learning pathway at Highline Virtual Academy

Calvin Allen, a teacher at Highline Virtual Academy, used public comment time to urge the Highline School District board to support creation of a formal digital learning pathway at Highline Virtual Academy (HVA) and to use HVA as an incubator for digital instructional practices across the district.

Allen told the board HVA already supports students “with diverse learning styles and a flexible tech forward environment” and argued the school could pilot new tools such as AI to identify media bias, 3‑D printing projects for social studies, and coding to simulate science experiments when lab access is limited. “HVA is the ideal place to test and refine these kinds of innovative learning experiences before scaling them to comprehensive schools,” Allen said.

Allen acknowledged concerns that technology could displace human connection but argued the approach would be “smarter, more intentional integration [that] enhances relationships, personalization, and equity in learning,” and said HVA instructors could also help train district teachers to use new tools.

Why it matters: The comment proposed a district strategy that would formalize and scale digital tools and instructional models; the item was public comment and no formal board action on a digital pathway was taken during the meeting.

Ending: Allen closed by encouraging the board to invest in the vision to prepare students for “21st‑century careers” and to position Highline as a leader in future‑ready education.