LANSING, Mich., May 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michigan Virtual University (MVU) appointed Scott Vashaw as Associate Director for the Michigan Virtual School (MVS), one of the largest virtual schools in the U.S. Since its inception in 2000, the MVS has recorded over 27,000 course enrollments and served more than 150,000 students with an online ACT, SAT, PSAT or State Assessment review tools.

As Associate Director, Vashaw will be responsible for overseeing a statewide e-learning consortium project and will coordinate the MVS school improvement and accreditation process. In addition, he will provide leadership for staff development and supervision of nearly 100 online instructors. He will also play a critical role in leading the transition of new online educational products and services from development to implementation.

Prior to joining MVU, Vashaw served as assistant principal for five years and principal for 12 years at Lowell (Michigan) High School, where he also taught mathematics for more than 14 years.

"Scott is a strong educational leader with extensive experience as a coach, teacher and administrator; he will be a great asset to MVU as we expand services to meet the needs of Michigan's K-12 schools" said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of MVU, the private nonprofit corporation that operates the MVS.

"I am absolutely thrilled to join MVU. I have had a wonderful career in public education and I am looking forward to the new challenges associated with providing high-quality online instructional services to students statewide," said Vashaw, who plans to join MVU in June 2007.

Public Act 230 of 2000 authorized implementation of the MVS. The MVS does not grant course credit or award diplomas independently, but works in partnership with local and intermediate school districts which award credit or diplomas. The MVS operates as the core division of the MVU, a private, not- for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation created by the State in 1998 to expand the use of learning technologies. Michigan Virtual University is governed by a Board of Directors representing business, education leaders and state government. For more information visit http://www.mivu.org/ and http://www.mivhs.org/.

CONTACT: Erin Strang of Michigan Virtual University, +1-517-324-5373

Web site: http://www.mivu.org/
http://www.mivhs.org/