Kevin Kenealy teaches science at the Marshalltown Learning Academy. He is part of a science educator group working on competencies and standards-based rubrics for the statewide Competency-Based Education collaborative group.
Marshalltown Learning Academy science teacher Kevin Kenealy has been selected to take part in a science educator group working on competencies and standards-based rubrics for the statewide Competency-Based Education collaborative group.
This group is working on standards as part of CBE, which is designed to move students along at the pace they learn. Kenealy is part of a 12-member group, which met recently and has more meetings planned in the future.
“I think competency based is the way to move forward,” Kenealy said.
MLA has been able to work on CBE with its flexible schedules as it serves at-risk high school students.
“The big thing for us is if a student doesn’t understand the topic we don’t move on from the topic until they do,” Kenealy said. “They move as fast as they can.”
Kenealy said after the group completes the standards they will look to pilot the program at schools in the state. Kenealy has taught at MLA for 8 years and for 9 years total in the Marshalltown Community School District.
