By Xenia Broadnax
COA students may use their school-issued Student Success Cards to ride COTA lines free of charge. Students can receive training on how to ride the COTA bus through a program called travel training. According to COTA.com, “Travel Trainers provide a safe, supportive environment. Individuals or groups can experience travel training through a virtual or in-person presentation, with an out-of-service vehicle, and/or field training in the community.”
Some COA students attended group training last year and learned to ride the bus from their local library to Walnut Ridge and back again. Students can request training on COTA’s Travel Training website. After completing the form, a trainer will contact the student or family to conduct group or individual training.
Photo of students Ra'Niyea Davis and Andra VanBlarcume with COA's COTA travel trainer.
First Person Experience Riding a COTA Bus
By Kelvin Moffitt
I attend a lot of the in-person days at COA. This article is about how I get to the building and some tips for transportation. I take the COTA bus to Walnut Ridge. I use my bus pass from the school district to get to and from school.
Using your ID as a bus pass is not hard. It lets me get around many places in the city. I practice safety when I ride COTA.
Here are some tips:
- You can use Google Maps or the Transit app to find bus routes and times. All buses have Wi-Fi access.
- Plan ahead. Get to the bus stop early. Read the bus signs and make sure it is going where you need to go that day.
- Have your bus pass (or money ready) when the bus comes.
- Let older people on the bus first. Be kind.
- When you get on the bus for the first time using a school bus pass ask the driver for help activating your ID as a pass.
- Once you know how to swipe on the bus, swipe and then look for available seats.
- Sit close to the driver if you need to feel safe (or if you need help), but give up seats to older people or disabled people in those marked seat areas.
- Just nod or say hi to the person if you have to sit near someone. Practice stranger danger in seats and be alert.
- Tell the driver if something is wrong.
- Be ready for your stop a few stops ahead, you need to pull the yellow cord to get off the bus between the last stop and your stop.
- I like to ride the bus and I think you will too. Give it a try.
Q & A with Steve Baker
1. When do students apply?
The application process begins after students from all Columbus City High Schools have visited the two Career Centers. This is not a set date due to many different factors. Generally, the application process opens late in November and closes in early January of a student's sophomore year of high school.
2. How do students apply?
Students will complete applications in the student portal located within Infinite Campus. This feature is only open during the application process timeframe.
3. Do students need any type of unique supplies?
Each program requires different "supplies" Some programs require uniforms, special tools, books, etc.. Each program is different; students will receive a list of materials at orientation. The bad news is that a student must supply all needed materials for their program. The GREAT news is that we have scholarship programs for students who can not afford the materials for their program!
4. How is transportation provided?
CCS will schedule transportation in August prior to the student's junior year of school. I arrive at school two weeks before everyone else to ensure correct transportation. The Career Centers also provide transportation to a student's home school for activities after school (sports, clubs, or anything else going on at their home school). If a student enrolls at a Career Center, they are still part of their home high school and can participate in any and all activities at their home school.
5. How do students tour?
The Career Technical Education department (C.T.E. department) schedules tours. Once they have scheduled the school visits, The Career and Community Resource Coordinators (ME!) take over. I schedule time in the Sophomore English or Social Studies classes to give my Career Center Presentation. Within the presentation, I go over the entire Career Center process. Students will get to view and learn about all the different programs we offer and a brief history of the Career Centers. Once the presentation is over, students choose programs from each Career Center to visit on visitation day. When the visitation day arrives, we take a school bus to the Career Centers and are given guided tours of the programs we choose to visit. A lot goes on behind the scenes, but we will keep that magic behind closed doors.
6. Is there anything else students should know?
Vocational education is the wave of the near future! With Intel, Honda, and Amazon expanding in Central Ohio, there will be a great demand for vocational trained workers. Many of these new jobs start out in the upper five figures or even six figure incomes. If students complete their vocational training at our Career Centers, they will leave high school with a diploma and a license/certification to start a career immediately. Even if this is not something they want to do for the rest of their lives, it's a skill they will have forever!
November PBIS COA Kind Awards
By Tiffany Tatum
Students, families, and staff members nominated one or more people for being COA Kind in November. The nominated individuals received a certificate, a shoutout in the Dec. 19 morning meeting, and a ticket to pick a gift from the prize table.
Photo by Tiffany Tatum.
Shoutout to Kelvin and Ms. Eva O'Bannon
The COA staff would like to thank Kelvin Moffitt and his mom for spreading kindness with personalized gifts for the staff. They delivered the gifts on Dec. 19, but returned on Dec. 20 to make sure that all staff members were greeted in person. Their generosity and thoughtfulness are appreciated.
Lisa Hess
By Temarie Sebring
Lisa Hess, an English teacher for 11th grade at Columbus Online Academy (COA), is celebrating her second year with the school, bringing with her nearly three decades of teaching experience. Having taught at schools across the United States and in the United Kingdom, Hess is passionate about helping students achieve their academic goals, particularly through the unique environment of online learning.
Before joining COA, Hess spent 12 years teaching at another online school. Her 28-year teaching career includes time at schools in Cleveland and England. “I was at another school teaching online and wanted a change, so I applied to COA,” she explained.
The transition to teaching at COA has been a positive one for Hess. “The best part about teaching is working with students,” she shared. “I like helping people, and watching them walk across the stage when they graduate makes it all feel worth it. Seeing them so happy after they reach their goal of graduating is incredibly rewarding.”
However, like any job, teaching comes with its challenges. For Hess, one of the toughest aspects is the amount of grading required. “There is a lot of grading, and online student engagement in this environment can be challenging,” she said. Still, she finds that the rewards far outweigh the challenges.
Hess also shared insights into her life outside the classroom. Growing up, she played second base in softball and remains active today, playing tennis at both indoor and outdoor tennis clubs. She once took fencing lessons alongside a group of younger students. “I found myself surrounded by grade school kids,” she said with a laugh.
In her downtime, Hess enjoys watching television, spending time with friends and family, and exploring her love for food. “I’m a foodie,” she said. “I love going out to eat.” She also belonged to the Alpha Xi Delta sorority in college, affectionately known as “Fuzzies.”
Reflecting on her time at COA, Hess expressed her belief in the power of online learning. “I think online learning is a really good option for a lot of different students,” she said. “We can create a stronger student-teacher rapport online than some people may think.”
As a dedicated teacher, Hess looks forward to the future at COA and continues to inspire her students both in and out of the classroom.
Charlene McChesney
By Mame Diara Sy
Once, while driving over railroad tracks, a person's car stalled. A train was approaching, and the conductor had to stop the train, get out, move her car, and then continue on the route. Who was that person? Charlene McChesney, known to students as Ms. McChesney.
McChesney currently teaches high school psychology, sociology, and American history. Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies mental states, processes, and behavior in humans and other animals. Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. American history is the composite of many stories, including conquests, wars, and political experiments.
McChesney came to her current job because of her passion for teaching American history and other social studies subjects. When asked about teaching at Columbus Online Academy, she said, “The positive aspects are the relationships I form with our students. COA students are so kind and helpful to one another. A challenge is getting students to come to Zoom class.”
Before her current job, McChesney taught English and social studies for 10 years at South High School. She also taught middle school English and social studies for 21 years at Mifflin Middle School and social studies for nine years at Garfield Heights High School near Cleveland.
McChesney attended Kent State University and Ashland College. She has both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. When she attended undergraduate school, she worked to pay her own way. One summer, she even worked two full-time jobs.
She was a member of the History Honorary at Kent State University. She holds degrees in English and social studies and has the following certifications and licenses:
An elementary/middle school license to teach grades 1–8.
A high school license to teach grades 7–12.
A reading certification license for grades 1–12.
McChesney is currently the Social Studies Department Chair at COA.
In her previous schools, she served as Senior Class Advisor, Homecoming Chairperson, and Senior Prom Chairperson. In high school, she was a member of the Future Teachers of America Club.
Fun Facts About McChesney:
She has a room in her house filled with gifts. She doesn’t like to shop, so when she finds something she likes, she buys it. If she needs a present, she goes to her “gift room” to pick one.
Her grandchildren call her Charma—a combination of her first name and grandma. Staff members call her Ms. McChes or Charma.
Giving presents to people brings her great joy.
In her free time, McChesney enjoys going out to dinner with friends, attending plays and musicals, and spending time with her grandchildren. Her favorite sport is football, and she loves watching games on television.
McChesney has been teaching for 44 years. She wants COA readers to know how much she loves teaching and her students. She was set to retire after one year at COA but decided not to because she loves the students so much.
Rachel Narra
By Christian Manago
Rachel Narra, an English teacher at Columbus Online Academy (COA), brings 15 years of teaching experience to her role. After spending over a decade at East High School, she joined COA to explore technology and contribute to an innovative learning environment. “I feel blessed that I am here to work with our kind, compassionate, hardworking, and talented staff,” Narra said.
Before teaching, Narra worked in various jobs, including floral design, restaurant service, and sales. These experiences helped shape her approach to teaching. At East High School, she taught English and College Credit Plus courses while serving as the credit recovery coordinator. Despite her long tenure there, Narra was eager to join COA to be part of a new, dynamic environment.
Narra earned a bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences from The Ohio State University, where she gained a broad understanding of various subjects. She later earned a master’s degree in education from Antioch McGregor, which equipped her with additional skills to be an effective teacher. Narra’s focus on learning also inspires her students to think critically and enjoy learning at COA.
Her high school years were filled with unique experiences that shaped her journey. She attended a leadership conference for aspiring journalists in Washington, D.C., where she interviewed notable figures like Governor Mike DeWine and Senator Sherrod Brown. She also marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, dancing with a giant gold star instead of playing her bass drum—a moment she still cherishes.
In her free time, Narra enjoys cooking, hiking with friends, and attending live concerts. In 2024, she attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Indianapolis, continuing her lifelong love of music, which her parents introduced her to at a young age. Narra’s diverse background and enthusiasm for learning make her a valuable member of the COA community.
Monique Patrick
By Keion Pace
In the world of education, there are teachers who inspire, nurture, and help students reach their full potential. One such teacher is Monique Patrick, a dedicated math educator at COA. With a passion for teaching and a love for crafting, she serves as a role model for both her students and colleagues.
Patrick’s journey as an educator started with a solid foundation in mathematics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Central State University before pursuing a master’s degree in math education at The Ohio State University. Patrick said that one of her proudest achievements was earning her master’s degree, a milestone that highlights her dedication to both her field and her personal growth.
Before joining the COA team, Patrick taught at Mifflin High School, where she honed her teaching skills and developed a deeper understanding of student needs. Her love for teaching math stems from a desire to show students that math isn’t as intimidating as it may seem. “I like showing people that they can learn math and that it’s not as unfamiliar as they think,” she says. For her, there’s nothing more rewarding than breaking down complex concepts and seeing students light up with understanding.
When asked what her favorite part of teaching is, Patrick said, “Experiencing joyful memories with students, such as when they have those ‘aha’ moments or when we share a great laugh, are some of my favorite moments.”
In addition to her role as an educator, Patrick has a creative side—she enjoys Cricut crafting, a hobby that allows her to express her artistic side and unwind. She also loves dancing and doing nails. Her hobbies are a testament to her well-rounded personality and serves as a reminder that teachers, too, have passions outside the classroom.
Her commitment to supporting students stems from the positive experiences she received from her own teachers. “I also want to provide the support and experiences to students that my teachers provided for me,” Patrick says. This sentiment speaks to her desire to pay it forward and ensure her students feel confident in their learning journey.
Caleb Martin
By Emir Richardson and Christian Manago
Before joining Online Academy, Caleb Martin was a teacher at Marion-Franklin High School as a tutor for special education students and also taught at Fort Hayes High School for seven years. During his seven years at Fort Hayes High School, Martin taught various classes such as American History, Modern World History, and African American Studies. But before that, Martin attended The Ohio State University and earned two bachelor's degrees. He teaches 9th grade Modern World History and the remaining grades for Civic Reasoning/Economics. Martin started teaching online in 2021. Some of his hobbies and interests include working out (lifting weights and running), writing, reading, playing video games, and spending time with his wife and his dog.
One of Martin's favorite hobbies is exercising. He said, "I like basic lifting motions, and I prefer lifting with dumbbells. I like shoulder presses, bicep curls, squats with dumbbells, and shoulder raises the most. I prefer to run outside. One of my favorite places to run is the Camp Chase-Erie Trail on the Hilltop." Another hobby of his is reading. He has a soft spot for epic Chinese novels: "I also have a deep fondness for the Chinese epic novels Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margins." But his favorite books are Don Quixote and All Quiet on the Western Front. He said, "I read A Christmas Carol every Christmas season." He's also a gamer; he plays RPGs such as World of Warcraft and Dark Souls, and he even plays sports games like MLB The Show and College football, but said he hates online games.
Martin does all this while working at Wal-Mart two days out of the week; he's been working there in the production department for 14 years. During his lunch breaks at Wal-Mart, he likes to run behind the buildings on Hilliard Rome Rd. Martin takes his job very seriously and does his best to teach all of his students while making them laugh at the same time. He said his favorite thing about COA is "the flexibility. There's more freedom, and that comes with a lot more responsibility, which I love. " Students in Martin's class are in for a fun and engaging ride!
Lindsay Santen
By Tyla Hall
Lindsay Santen is an educator at Columbus Online Academy (COA), where she teaches anatomy and environmental science. She is known as Ms. Santen or Ms. S. by her students and simply Santen by staff.
Before joining COA, Santen taught at East High School, Beechcroft High School, and Eastmoor Academy. She decided to switch to online teaching to reduce the stress of in-person teaching. "The demands of a traditional classroom were taking a toll on my home and family life," she said.
Switching to online teaching at COA allowed Santen to achieve a better work-life balance, giving her more time for grading, planning, and meetings. However, she admits that she misses the face-to-face interaction with students. "It's harder to form relationships in an online setting," she said.
In addition to her teaching experience, Santen worked as an educator at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for a year and was a zookeeper for two years. She played basketball in high school but now enjoys hiking and walking.
Santen attended The Ohio State University, earning her bachelor's degree in zoology and later receiving a master's degree in education. She was active in college, living in a special scholarship dorm and joining the Mountaineering Club and the social committee.
Outside of teaching, Santen loves hiking, birdwatching, and drawing animals. She also volunteers at an animal shelter and the zoo. She enjoys spending time with her family and her pets, which include two dogs, two cats, two rabbits, and two tortoises. Santen has also fostered a service dog in the past.
When she's not teaching or spending time with animals, you'll likely find her outdoors enjoying nature or with her pets. Santen organizes many field trips for COA students and creates and updates the announcements and Google Forms with field trip information for families. She records videos of her nature hikes for the nature club's TikTok account so families can enjoy them virtually if they can't attend in person.
Internship Hours
Columbus Online Academy Times
Articles in this issue were edited with support from OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model].
Volume 4
Volume 3
Publications Staff: Xenia Broadnax, Samantha Burk, Samuel Claffey, Noella Criswell, Samir Dolison, Elijah Forbes, Trinity Forbes, Emily Haas, Tyla Hall, Erica Henderson, Teandra Jenkins, Kaitlyn Jones, Charles King, Anita Lindsay, Christian Manago, Kathy McQuate, Aimon Mitchell, Zaymon Mitchell, Kelvin Moffitt, Laveah Morrison, Kenya Nelson, Anuoluwapo Ojuoluwa, Keion Pace, Emir Richardson, Te'Marie Sebring, Tatiana Serpaz Rivas, Mame Diara Sy, Sabin Tiwari, and Andra VanBlarcume
Email: colsonlineacad@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website
Location: 4841 E Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH 43227, USA
Phone: (614) 365-8472