A Teacher’s View: Remote Learning and COVID-19
We were given short notice that the schools in our district would be closed for an indefinite amount of time due to COVID-19. The scramble to get things set-up for our students to continue learning and meet their needs during this time, had less panic and more positive energy than you would think possible.
We gave our educators almost no notice. We asked them to completely redesign what school looks like and in about 24 hours our local administrators and teachers “Apollo 13-d” the problem and fixed it. Kids learning, children being fed, needs being met, in the midst of a global crisis.
No state agency did this, no so-called experts on the curriculum. The educators fixed it in hours. HOURS.
In fact, existing state and federal policies actually created multiple roadblocks. Local schools figured out how to succeed around those too. No complaining and no handwringing– just solutions and amazingly clever plans.
Remember that the next time someone tries to convince you that schools are better run by mandates from non-educators, remember that the next time someone tells you that teachers have it easy, or try to persuade you that educators are not amongst the smartest, most ingenious people in society. Please, never say to me again, “Those who can’t do anything else just go into teaching.”
Just get out of the way of a teacher and watch with amazement the magic that can happen.
There are so many positive stories that came out of our district. One that comes to mind is of a teacher whose son happened to have a birthday the week the school buildings were shut down and the governor declared mandatory “social distancing.” So disappointing. No party. No fun get together with friends and classmates. So, this creative teacher/mother put out a call on Facebook for anyone that could, to drive by and honk to wish her son a Happy Birthday. Guess what? All that day teachers and classmates drove by and did just that, creating a special birthday he will always remember.
[image error]Waiting for teaches, friends, and classmates to drive or walk by
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That’s just one story. I look forward to hearing many more by the time this is over. I love my district. I love how they have a passion for providing professional development for their educators that will meet just about any need they have to give our students an equitable, loving and inspired education. I love the problem-solving, talented teachers that teach not only from their amazing skills and knowledge base, but from the heart.
So, keep your eyes and ears open for those inspiring and uplifting stories during what can be called a “global crisis.” Share them! Until next time, keep on keeping and keep on learning and sharing that joy.
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