Principal Cullen Builds Virtual Learning With Human Connection
As the school year creeps closer once again, we’re excited to welcome students – new and returning – to thrive in our AZVS community.
Community is even more important in virtual school: without the casual interactions built into traditional schools, virtual connections must be developed with more purpose than most are used to. Luckily, we have a leader guiding our school who understands how vital relationships are to helping online students succeed.
Let’s get to know Principal Ryan Cullen, and how she approaches human connection in virtual learning.
Why I Chose Education
“People often ask me why I chose education. The answer is simple. Education changed my life.
I grew up in rural Wyoming where hard work was simply part of everyday life. There were no shortcuts, and there were plenty of days that were hard. Like many kids, I carried things into school that no child should have to carry. Looking back, I realize school became the one place where I felt steady. It gave me consistency, hope, and adults who believed in me before I believed in myself.
Those educators changed the direction of my life, and they are the reason I became one. That experience shaped the way I lead today.
I believe every child deserves to be known before they are taught. Before we can help students reach their potential, we have to understand who they are, how they learn, what motivates them, and what challenges they may be carrying. Every student has a story, and every story matters.
Throughout my career, I have been passionate about supporting students who learn differently. I have never believed that education is one size fits all because children are not one size fits all. Some students thrive in a traditional classroom. Others need flexibility, personalized instruction, or a different path to reach the same destination. Success should never be measured by whether a child learns exactly like everyone else. It should be measured by whether we help that child continue to grow.
I have always believed that educators are the backbone of everything we do. A great teacher does far more than teach reading, writing, or math; great educators build confidence, create relationships. They help students believe in themselves long before students see that potential on their own. Those moments change lives, and I have seen it happen over and over again.
Our job isn’t to expect children to fit into a system, but to build a school that recognizes every child as an individual and provides the support they need to be successful. That means setting high expectations, while also meeting students where they are. It means celebrating growth, encouraging perseverance, and never allowing a student to believe they are defined by a test score, a diagnosis, or a difficult season in life.
That philosophy has only grown stronger through my greatest role, being a mom.
I have six amazing children, and every one of them has taught me something different about learning. They have different personalities, different strengths, different challenges, and different educational experiences. One of my own children attends Arizona Virtual School, so I experience this school not only as its principal but as a parent. I understand what it feels like to trust a school with someone you love because I have made that same decision for my own family. That perspective influences every decision I make.
When families choose Arizona Virtual School, they are not simply choosing an online program. They are trusting us with the most important people in their lives. I never lose sight of that responsibility.
My vision for Arizona Virtual School is to create a place where students feel safe to be themselves, where families know they have a true partner in their child's education, and where every member of our staff believes that relationships come before everything else. When students feel seen, supported, challenged, and encouraged, incredible things happen.”
Virtual School and Connection: What the Data Says
And Principal Cullen says it best: when virtual students feel known by the people supporting their education, they succeed. The data doesn’t lie.
According to an article in the National Library of Medicine, “Feeling connected increases the likelihood of student health and wellbeing (Arslan, 2021), academic success (Wilson, 2018), and graduate prospects (Bridgstock et al., 2019). Hence, it can be inferred that feeling connected is an essential component of the student experience [...] ” (Hehir et. al)
Another article from the CCRC blog follows the first-hand advice given by a virtual university student, highlighting their personal experience: “Students want to respond meaningfully to their peers and instructors [..] They want that opportunity to see what other students are interested in and how they understand the concepts they are learning in class” (Thompson).
So, now we know that Principal Cullen is right – connection is a vital foundation on which to build a virtual school. How do we, and by extension virtual schools, build that foundation?
Luckily, those same sources point us in the direction AZVS is already headed. Hehir points to “Usability, teacher presence, immediacy, synchronicity, and community [as] the five components identified as being essential to encourage student feelings of connectedness” (Hehir et. al). If that sounds a bit too vague, Thompson breaks it down in language that’s a bit easier to understand:
“Instructors should use peer engagement activities (such as group assignments, study groups, and yes, even discussion boards) to create space for students to explore their confusion and teach one another, all while fostering some personal connections” (Thompson).
In summary, building community in online school requires:
Technology that works
Proactive and invested teachers
Quick, relevant feedback
Synchronous class time
Intentional course design
It sounds simple enough – and, with Principal Cullen’s help, it is that simple at AZVS.
Why We Do What We Do
Let's take a look at how our approach fits in with the roadmap to connectedness we just set out.
Technology that works: From providing computers to students in need, to our tech support, to our BrightThinker curriculum, we’re always thinking about how to make technology accessible to families.
Caring teachers: AZVS would be nothing without our educators. That’s why we focus on hiring certified teachers and counselors who are local to Arizona.
Useful feedback: In a class of 30, it can take a while for teachers to turn around detailed feedback. But, in a virtual school, the teacher to student ratio allows for faster feedback without sacrificing detail.
Synchronous class time: While we are fully virtual, our teachers host optional synchronous classes daily, alongside one on one sessions. What we lack in face to face opportunities we make up for with intentional virtual class time to build connections and confidence.
Intentional course design: One of the hardest obstacles COVID posed to education was the swift transition to online learning without all the tools to properly support it. But with our BrightThinker curriculum and online tools, we approach virtual school with much more intentionality to ensure our students succeed.
Check, check, and check – we pass! Though virtual school won’t work for every student, we do our best to build a community around our students.
FAQ Section: What Parents Ask All the Time
"Will my child be staring at a laptop screen for eight hours straight?"
Absolutely not. Our model emphasizes balanced learning. While instructional delivery and community check-ins happen online, students frequently engage in independent project-based tasks, offline reading, and real-world application away from the screen.
"How do teachers keep track of my student’s progress if they aren't in a physical room?"
Because our systems log engagement and learning data dynamically, our educators actually have more immediate insight into learning gaps than a teacher grading papers at the end of a long week. We see where a student hesitates, where they excel, and how to pivot our instruction instantly.
"Is a virtual diploma held to the same standard as a traditional school?"
Yes. Arizona Virtual Schools offers a fully accredited, robust curriculum that meets all state standards. Our students graduate completely equipped for college, careers, and whatever future path they choose.
Connect With Us
“My hope is that every student who joins our school leaves believing in themselves a little more than they did when they arrived. If we can help students discover confidence, develop resilience, and realize they are capable of more than they imagined, then we have done far more than educate them. We have helped prepare them for life.”
The first step in building a relationship is finding the right opportunity – luckily, we have just the thing! Check out our next Meet your School Event on Thursday August 6th at 6:30pm. There, you can meet Principal Cullen yourself and take that first step.
RSVP here to make sure you secure a spot!
Can’t make it to this one? No worries! There will be more coming soon. In the meantime, make sure to follow our Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts to know what events we have coming soon.
Sources
Hehir, Elizabeth, et al. "Developing Student Connectedness Under Remote Learning Using Digital Resources: A Systematic Review." Education and Information Technologies, vol. 26, no. 5, 2021, pp. 6531–6548. National Library of Medicine, doi:10.1007/s10639-021-10577-1.
Thompson, Akilah H. "Looking Beyond the Screen: Connection and Humanity in Online Learning Environments." CCRC Blog, Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University, 8 May 2025, ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/easyblog/looking-beyond-the-screen-connection-in-online-learning.html.
