Betsy Fitch, Ed.D

I am delighted to introduce you to Virginia Chance School, a special place where we prioritize not just strong academic achievement, but the overall development of your child. Located in the heart of Glenview in Louisville, KY, our private institution serves children from Preschool through 5th grade, focusing on nurturing both robust academic skills and essential personal qualities such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience. 

 

At Virginia Chance School, we embrace a progressive education approach that is evidenced-based and recognized for its innovative, inquiry-focused curriculum. Our aim is to inspire a love of learning through hands-on discovery and collaborative project work. We understand that learning is most impactful when it is engaging and applicable, which is why our classrooms and magical wooded campus provide the perfect backdrop for an child that is ready for the unique rigor of Chance School.

 

We pride ourselves on creating a collaborative environment that instills self-motivation, a growth mindset, and critical thinking skills in our students. Each day, your child will have the opportunity to explore, discover, and develop meaningful connections with their peers and the world around them.

 

Choosing the right educational path for your child is a significant decision, and I invite you to experience firsthand the captivating educational opportunities that await at Virginia Chance School. Together, we can foster a lifelong love of learning and personal growth.

 

Dr. Betsy Fitch, MBA, Ed.D. 

Head of School

 

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Betsy Fitch is a native of Kentucky. She attended Murray State and earned a degree in marketing. After graduating from Murray, Betsy worked in marketing and advertising while earning her M.B.A. at Xavier.

 

In 2000, she and her husband moved to Northern, CA. At that time, Betsy decided to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. She earned her teaching credential, a second master's degree, administrative credential, and a doctorate in education leadership, all from San Jose State University.  While in California, Betsy was the founding teacher for two start-up schools and was a principal for six years. She also spent nine years teaching kindergarten to grade eight.

 

After earning her doctorate, Betsy and her husband accepted positions with the Thai-Chinese International School (TCIS) in Bangkok, Thailand. Betsy was principal for the elementary school and worked closely with all school divisions, preschool through grade 12.  

 

Most recently, Betsy has returned to Louisville to be closer to her family. She volunteers with Louisville Metro Parks and works with a team to develop new community gardens and curriculum at the Portland Community Center and the Douglass Community Center.  She also enjoys hiking, running, reading, and continuing her own professional development during these rapidly evolving times.

 

Education Philosophy Betsy’s personal, educational philosophy closely mirrors the education philosophy of progressive education. Betsy believes that education is to prepare students to participate actively in a pluralist society, do good, and leave the world an iteratively better place. To do that, she believes schools work best when:

She believes that how we accomplish and define specific objectives may vary in degrees, but valuing children's hearts, minds, and voices is the essence of our work in education.

 

Experience Betsy has 20 years of experience in education. Her work includes implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, leading project-based learning professional development, working closely with community organizations, managing budgets, collaborating with parent teams, coaching teachers, writing grants, working in multilingual and multicultural communities, and sharing a love of progressive education.