Coping with COVID: A Panel Discussion (Educators and selected Yale staff)

August 28, 2020

Moderated by Dr. Karen Burke, this panel of educators discusses the impact of COVID-19 on teachers, students, and families. They explore the challenges of remote instruction, what school might look like in the fall, and the opportunities for reimagining education in the post-COVID era.

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00:00Good afternoon and welcome back.
00:02We're delighted that you've been with us
00:05over these past few days and we hope that
00:08all of this great information will help
00:11you as you begin the new school year.
00:14Ann really make helping all
00:16students to thrive.
00:17My name is doctor Karen Burke
00:19and I am with Scholastic.
00:21I'll be your moderate are today.
00:24I am the senior vice president
00:26for Scholastic education and I'm
00:28delighted to be hosting this great.
00:30Panel that we have today.
00:32Sorry about that.
00:33I've had an opportunity to be
00:36in many positions in education,
00:38some including principle curriculum
00:40director working for the State
00:42Department and most recently
00:44as an assistant Superintendent.
00:46But I'm delighted to be here today
00:49to bring you this great panel.
00:52We have such incredible people
00:53and as you know you probably have
00:56already seen doctor Linda Maze
00:59and had an opportunity.
01:01You be here for her at opening and
01:04talking with her a little bit.
01:06Some of the other people that we
01:09have on this panel today and I'll
01:12start with Doctor Ann Levett.
01:14She's the Superintendent of Savannah
01:16County Public Schools in Georgia,
01:18and we're delighted that she's able
01:20to be with us here today because she
01:23has just opened her schools this year.
01:26An obviously working to reassure her
01:29staff that things don't have to be perfect.
01:32And I certainly appreciate that about her,
01:34and she's here to really help
01:37us hear about that,
01:38but it doesn't have to be perfect
01:41as we begin. Please know that.
01:43Also,
01:44she is bringing that great message to you,
01:47but she's joining.
01:48The symposium is a little bit of a
01:50homecoming doctor lavette has was
01:52served as the executive director
01:54of the school development program
01:56at the Yale Child Study Center as
01:59well as other positions in the
02:01New Haven public school, so.
02:03Welcome Doctor Lavette on.
02:05Additionally we have doctor
02:07Jonathan Brown and doctor Brown is
02:10the deputy Superintendent in the
02:12Arlington Central School District
02:14in Dutchess County New York.
02:17Doctor Browns are responsibilities include
02:19leading the curriculum instruction,
02:21an Assessment Department,
02:22the districts equity initiatives,
02:24school accountability,
02:25student discipline,
02:26professional development and
02:28continuing education and we're
02:30not sure exactly when he sleep.
02:32But Doctor Brown were so happy.
02:35Have you here today?
02:37Thank you for taking time out of your
02:40busy schedule and doctor Harris as
02:43director of of provider operation.
02:46She leads and manage is the programs
02:49and high quality services provided by child.
02:53360.
02:53Heather leads the coaching teams
02:56and overseas Childs,
02:57three 60s involvement with and the
03:00implementation of the countrywide
03:02quality rating and improvement system.
03:04She also works with the quality.
03:07Start in Los Angeles, of course,
03:10and Prior to joining child 360 family,
03:14she was an early childhood director
03:17at Lynwood Unified School District,
03:19where she spearheaded the districts
03:22expansion,
03:22providing universal preschool
03:24across 12 locations.
03:25Still happy to have her here as well.
03:29Uh, good friends.
03:31All and of course,
03:33last but not least,
03:35Michael Hagan,
03:36a great friend and colleague, but.
03:39Ah, rats, plastic,
03:40our chief academic offer, Sir,
03:43but he's previously served in so many
03:47educational roles, teacher principle,
03:49academic officer and director,
03:51report to superintendents
03:52in three school districts.
03:55He also served as deputy Superintendent in
03:58the East Baton Rouge Parish School system,
04:02leading efforts and driving significant
04:05change that ultimately yielded
04:07increases in performance.
04:08In 70% of the schools.
04:11In Saint Louis public schools,
04:13he developed and implemented a
04:15turn around model for 30 schools,
04:18which helpfully that system through
04:21its first accreditation in almost a
04:24decade as deputy Superintendent of
04:26New Orleans Recovery School District,
04:28Michael led the system wide
04:31organization of an integrated learning
04:33support system designed to remove
04:35barriers to learning for students,
04:38including those returning
04:39home post Hurricane Katrina.
04:41So today,
04:42as Michael as Michael serves
04:44as our chief academic officer,
04:46he ensures that elastic education is
04:49the fast to support educators across
04:51the Globe who improves student learning.
04:54So please,
04:55let's all give them a round of
04:58applause as we welcome such a
05:01great and distinguished panel.
05:03Thank you all again for being here.
05:06We have about 45 minutes to share
05:09some great information from what
05:12you're doing an what you've learned.
05:14Overtime,
05:15so if we might start with the
05:17question I'm going to pose this
05:20and then I'm going to be asking
05:22a few of you to respond to this.
05:24How will SWOT reopening means for you
05:27and what it looks like where you live?
05:30Doctor Lavette?
05:30Would you be willing to start
05:32for us on that question?
05:35Um, I would, Karen,
05:37if you'll let me know that you
05:40can hear me. OK, we can hear you. Would you
05:44like to turn on your camera so that
05:46we can see you as well as typical
05:50technology fails after practicing,
05:52but I hope everyone understands.
05:54It's my pleasure to be with you today
05:56and I really appreciate your flexibility.
06:00The invitation as well as
06:02your patience reopening. Well,
06:03we haven't had such a charged experience.
06:06In quite some time I will say to you
06:09that it has been a learning experience.
06:12Our students left the district March
06:1513th to prepare for spring break,
06:17and as you know our schools were
06:20closed April the 1st for the
06:23rest of the school year.
06:24We continued instruction through
06:26May 15th and I think we did an
06:29excellent job considering the crisis
06:31we were facing without preparation.
06:33We did during that time they'll
06:36go ahead and establish.
06:37And E Learning Academy.
06:39Given what we knew at that time
06:42about the virus and we started
06:45preparing for virtual learning,
06:48I will tell you though practically we
06:51were planning for a socially distanced
06:54learning experience for our students.
06:57So we started out space mining
06:59looking for places that we could
07:02indeed serve more than expected.
07:05Given the CDC guidelines, we.
07:07Study the capacity of our school
07:10buses and we also ran some pilots
07:12so that we could see how students
07:15and staff operated under the
07:17socially distance guidelines.
07:19That all went well through June 26th.
07:21We returned from the 4th of July holiday
07:25and learned that the numbers in Georgia
07:28and in our areas specifically had
07:30just gone off the rails at that time
07:33in conjunction with their task force.
07:37Anne,
07:37with our Department of Public help,
07:39we decided then that it was going
07:42to be best for us to go virtually
07:45totally to start the school year.
07:48We changed our calendar and made the
07:50official announcement July 16th,
07:52which of course created lots and
07:54lots of challenges for many families.
07:57However,
07:57we thought we would do what school
08:00people do and try to be as flexible
08:03as possible.
08:04We changed our calendar so I have
08:0612 days of planning.
08:08For a teachers versus the typical four,
08:11we had ordered a learning management system.
08:15We ordered additional devices for
08:17students and staff and we launched yesterday.
08:21Yesterday was our first day of logging on.
08:25Virtually learning thirty 7690 two
08:28students and we were excited to be
08:32able to do that outside of a few
08:35teenage pranks which you would expect and.
08:38Password resets,
08:39we had an excellent day.
08:41It was just awesome.
08:43So our Staffs angst levels are much lower.
08:47Today we have lots of conversation,
08:49lots of very pleased.
08:51Parents despite the challenges.
08:52It is our hope that the numbers will
08:56go down so that we will be able
08:59to face in our earliest learners.
09:02And we also hope that the state
09:05and the country will improve in a
09:08way that allows us to see.
09:10All of our children in place in our schools,
09:14so that's what the restart
09:16process has been like for us,
09:19and we're continuing to work with our staff
09:22with our task force to decide how we.
09:26Face the children back in to learning.
09:28Once the numbers are in a lower range,
09:31so thanks for allowing me to share that. Oh
09:34thank you Anne, what a great you know,
09:37methodical plan, systemic, systematic,
09:39really being very thoughtful about all of the
09:42landscape that you're dealing with as well.
09:44So thank you for sharing that doctor Brown.
09:47Would you like to share a little bit
09:50about your reopening and and how that's
09:53going or what your plan was or is?
09:57If I had here, you would see that much
09:59of it is Gray right now from all of the
10:02work that we're doing to prepare for safe
10:04opening for our students. Unfortunately,
10:06because of the change with the virus,
10:08it makes it very hard to have
10:10concrete ideas about what to do.
10:12So we're planning for in a large
10:14number of contingencies in order for
10:16us to be successful and reopening.
10:17We've taken advantage of our
10:19efforts and collaboration,
10:20so we've had task force.
10:21It included students, parents,
10:22community members, and educators,
10:23and they've been informing us about
10:25things that we should consider
10:27in terms of reopening safely.
10:28Russ is meant a lot of flexibility,
10:30not necessarily doing things
10:31the way we've always done them,
10:33but reimagining how they might
10:34be able to be done,
10:35and we could possibly even do them better.
10:37But as you know,
10:38when you move folks away from things
10:40that they're accustomed to doing,
10:42there has to be some change leadership
10:44that's put in place as well.
10:45So we're trying to create clear
10:47visions for our students and
10:48parents and families about what
10:50might be versus what was and how
10:51we could get there together.
10:53So we're asking our families to
10:54engage in regular communication with
10:56us about what they're looking for
10:57and were regularly communicating
10:58with them about what we believe
11:00is possible at this time.
11:01And what might be possible more
11:03down the line in the future?
11:05So many folks feel frustrated
11:06because they want concrete answers.
11:07Batkovic reminded us that we don't
11:09control very much of anything
11:10and that our best asset is our
11:12flexibility and the knowledge that we
11:14already have about what works well.
11:16So while online learning has not
11:17been dominant method of delivering
11:19instruction here in New York,
11:20it has been in other parts of
11:22the country for some time.
11:23So I've been leaning on colleagues
11:25and friends from around the nation
11:27about what they've been doing
11:28this working well and trying
11:30to incorporate that in our
11:31plans. Doctor Brown,
11:32thank you and I think you said,
11:35you know, flexible agile and that's
11:3721st century skills and boy were seeing
11:40them more and more during this era.
11:42And you know, covid has presented
11:44so much uncertainty for us.
11:46So thank you so much for
11:48sharing doctor Harris.
11:50Would you share a little bit about?
11:52I know you're not necessarily reopening,
11:54but what you are learning about reopening
11:57process in the work that you're doing.
12:00Certainly Good afternoon.
12:02So Karen, we've actually had several
12:05family child care providers remain
12:07open during the entire demik.
12:09They are essential workers and they have
12:13been a senchal and serving a senchal,
12:16workers, children, and so,
12:18although we particularly focus
12:21on young children zero to five
12:24ascential workers have children of
12:26all ages and so our family child
12:29care providers have taken care of.
12:32Anywhere from zero to 12 years old,
12:35and so initially when the pandemic
12:38causes us to shelter in place,
12:41we serve at child 360,
12:44over 550 providers and only
12:46about 30 of those providers,
12:48mainly family child care providers,
12:51remain open and so that following
12:53Monday we have a mighty team of
12:56coaches and supervisors who got
12:59on the phone and just started
13:02calling providers in assessing.
13:04What are your knees and how are you doing?
13:08You know how are you?
13:10How is your family adjusting to this change?
13:13So first we wanted to just deal
13:15with the trauma that our providers
13:18were managing and then fill in.
13:20You know, some of those gaps,
13:22some of the gaps that we found out
13:25was that providers were very stressed
13:27and they needed some self help
13:30skills and mindfulness and they just
13:32needed some good old fashioned TLC.
13:35In our coaches did a dynamic
13:37job on a weekly basis,
13:39calling those providers Ann just checking in.
13:42Sometimes it was a text and email,
13:44a virtual call.
13:45You know,
13:46working with providers through
13:48technical issues because typically our
13:50providers are hands on with children.
13:52You know they're not or things like that.
13:55So it was just like you know,
13:57teaching providers or facilitating
13:59that learning about these
14:00digital platforms and getting
14:02providers comfortable with that.
14:03And then once our providers that.
14:06Became comfortable with meeting
14:07with us virtually.
14:08They started to entertain the idea
14:11of what would it look like if we did
14:14reopen and so we became a conveyor
14:17of information and we develop a
14:19Cobit task force across our County
14:22and in that task force we included
14:24the Department of Public health,
14:27licensing and several organizations so
14:29that because what we found was there
14:32was so many resources and procedures
14:34that were being put out there,
14:36we didn't know which one to follow.
14:39One entity would say you know,
14:41keep your ratios at 8:00 to 1:00 and
14:44then other entities will say 12:50.
14:47And So what we did was we brought
14:49all that information together and
14:51all those stakeholders together.
14:54And then we created one particular stance
14:56on how we would move forward with reopening.
15:00And then we developed a needs
15:02assessment Anna survey across the
15:04County in that needs assessment.
15:06We found that providers didn't have
15:08access to nutritious snacks for children.
15:11And so you know,
15:12a lot of our grocery stores
15:14would open early for elders,
15:16but you know,
15:17we had to have a voice in there.
15:20What about our other vulnerable population?
15:22What about our children?
15:23You know who need milk?
15:25You know who need vegetables and fruits.
15:27And things like that.
15:28And so in our office,
15:30we have a strong advocacy,
15:32public policy and advocacy team.
15:33And they informed our state along the way.
15:36As far as what the needs
15:38of our providers were.
15:39Not only was it resources
15:41such as food and diapers,
15:43and things like that.
15:44But we also shared that are essential
15:46workers who typically depended on
15:48family members to take care of the
15:51young children now needed vouchers
15:53so that they could go and serve
15:56in hospitals or make deliveries.
15:57And so we advocated for vouchers
16:00throughout the County and we
16:02were able to achieve that.
16:03I'm happy to say now that we
16:05have out of our 550 providers we
16:08have about 300 of our providers
16:10that are providing service
16:12either virtually or in person.
16:14And that's amazing.
16:16That's serving a lot of children.
16:18Just within you know our organization.
16:21That's 54,000 preschoolers, anan babies.
16:23And so we have early Head Start.
16:26An early Head Start has remained
16:29open this entire time.
16:31Parent advocates have been
16:32in touch with families and
16:34increasing family engagement,
16:36and on a weekly basis through
16:38our learning management system,
16:40we have provided professional development
16:42and technical assistance to the field.
16:45In helping to reopen or offer
16:48virtual learning experiences,
16:49great thank
16:50you so much doctor Harris for that wonderful
16:54overview of what's been happening.
16:56I want you each to think about what
16:59are the most pressing concerns.
17:02I want you to think about two of the
17:06most pressing concerns that you have
17:09right now with whatever population
17:12that you're working with and then.
17:15Just briefly, if you would tell
17:17us what you're doing to work or
17:19to help face those challenges,
17:20so two challenges and what
17:22you're doing to face those,
17:23and we want to get as much information,
17:26so let's try to be will be brief on this one,
17:29so I have a few more questions that
17:31I want to make sure we get too.
17:34So let's start with doctor Brown on this one.
17:36Doctor Brown.
17:39Thank you so the number one concern that
17:41I have for our students are particularly
17:43sensors around our primary learners.
17:45I need to make sure that we don't set
17:47up our learners to have gaps throughout
17:50the duration of their academic career.
17:52Ensuring that our youngest learners can
17:54continue to learn to read at a high clip.
17:56An engaging numeracy skills at a high clip is
17:59definitely the number one concern that I had.
18:02What we're doing around that is we're
18:04exploring all the different options that
18:05exist both based in new technology,
18:07older technology and
18:08traditional teaching practices.
18:09To ensure that our teachers are up to
18:12speed on how to best meet the needs of
18:14all of our learners here in New York.
18:16Because of the social distancing
18:18guidelines are students are losing about
18:20half of their direct instructional time,
18:21so we need to ensure that our energies and
18:23efforts on our most important priority
18:25standards are succinct and really strong.
18:27Because we want to make sure that we don't
18:30get it wrong at the expense of our children.
18:32So ensuring that our students our
18:34youngest learners can learn to read
18:36and count and engage in basic academic
18:38skills is my number one concern.
18:39Oh Doctor Brown, thank you so much for
18:42that and thank you also for helping
18:44us understand how you're facing.
18:46That that problem is that that will
18:49will see that for generations to come
18:51right if we don't get this right.
18:54So thank you so much.
18:55Doctor Harris your number one,
18:57then we'll go with.
19:02Thank you, so are number
19:04one is family engagement.
19:05You know staying in touch with our families,
19:08ensuring that they have the resources
19:10that they need and that they are
19:13well and they can facilitate.
19:15They have the tools necessary
19:17to facilitate learning at home.
19:19You know many of our family
19:21members are used to, you know,
19:23bringing their children to us,
19:25and you know we have high quality
19:28early care and learning services and
19:30then they are able to go to work.
19:33And I think that in this pandemic
19:36we have delineated how ascential
19:38early childhood really is.
19:40You know, for this nation,
19:42and so you know,
19:44our family engagement has been
19:46extremely critical and the way
19:48that we've addressed that is our
19:50coaches have shifted the way that
19:53we typically support our providers.
19:55Typically we would work directly
19:57with the educators,
19:58and So what we did was we were
20:01obviously flexible and adaptable,
20:03and we began coaching virtually.
20:05The teacher and the parent,
20:07and so that helped with
20:09facilitating learning in the home,
20:10increasing parents confidence
20:11and motivating parents.
20:13And, you know,
20:14talking about conscious discipline.
20:15And you know,
20:16just the virtue of resiliency
20:18and just knowing that it's OK.
20:20You know,
20:21if your child doesn't want
20:23to sit down and read a book,
20:25the you know the entire time from
20:28beginning to end of the book.
20:30Just the point that you sat down with
20:33your child and you cuddled them during this.
20:36Unprecedented time and and you know
20:38things are shifting and they can
20:40have access to their grandparents.
20:42It just means so much and so just
20:44reaffirming that that family engagement
20:46is essential to children's well
20:48being has been critical for our
20:50entire County as well as resources.
20:52What we found in our needs assessment
20:55is that there's the equity gap,
20:57unfortunately, is increasing,
20:58and so there's a digital divide.
21:00There's a literacy divide,
21:02and so one of the ways that
21:04we've addressed that is not only
21:06to survey what the needs are.
21:09But we've partnered with ascential
21:11thought partners such as Scholastic
21:13and we were able to get secure books
21:16through funding from the from our
21:18state for 454 thousand children to
21:20have books in their home because
21:22we know that there's already a huge
21:25equity gap in literacy and so to
21:28be able to address that and know
21:30that all of the children within
21:32our network have a book at home
21:35as well as literacy brochures
21:37and bookmarks and things too.
21:39Increase in and teach parents
21:41you know how to read to a young
21:44child has been essential during
21:45this time. Thank you.
21:47So family engagement,
21:48Wellness and resources.
21:49I think you know attending to both the
21:52mental health of the parents and children
21:54and providing those concrete resources.
21:56Very important.
21:57Thanks for sharing that Doctor Lavette.
21:59Would you like to share what your number one?
22:02The problem that you're facing
22:04and how you're dealing with that?
22:07On my third number one, since I agree
22:10with doctor Brown and doctor Harris,
22:13is making sure that we are paying attention
22:16to the learning that the children may
22:19have lossed during this extended time,
22:21they've been out of school and so to me,
22:25what that means is making sure that
22:27one we're easing them back into the
22:30structured learning environment.
22:32We're assessing them appropriately
22:34so that we see what they,
22:36what they remembered.
22:37And what it is we need to re teach and
22:41then reminding them that even though
22:43there are there learning virtually
22:45that we're going to stay in touch with
22:49them through every means possible,
22:51we provided learning boxes and
22:53backpacks of reading materials,
22:54math, materials, art materials,
22:56they've done curbside drive UPS
22:58because we need that human experience.
23:00But we also need them to have
23:03some things to touch at home.
23:05So in addition to devices.
23:07They have reading books.
23:09They have art materials they have
23:11manipulatives for our older students.
23:13They have lab materials so that they
23:16can duplicate that experience at home.
23:19So in addition to all the things
23:21that Jonathan spoke to and have this
23:24book to my other number one is making
23:27sure that we're properly addressing
23:29that learning gap that we know
23:32are curd based on the young people
23:35being out of our physical presence.
23:37Since March 13th.
23:39Doctor Levada I'm so glad that I ended
23:42that question with you because I think
23:45you did a great job summing that up.
23:47And you know, when we think about the
23:50learning gap, we have to think about
23:52what students might have forgotten.
23:54But we also have to think about what
23:57students didn't get an opportunity to learn.
23:59So thank you so much for that,
24:02wonderful, you know,
24:03learning lossed or learning that just didn't
24:06occur during that last quarter of the year.
24:08So thank you so much for that.
24:11So let's switch gears just a little bit
24:14staying with obviously our our kovid,
24:18but if you could give educators
24:20advice about how those who are
24:24trying to balance the academic,
24:26a social, emotional,
24:28the health concerns as we come back
24:31in the fall to whatever the system is,
24:35whether it's hybrid, totally remote,
24:37how do we balance the social,
24:40emotional and the academics?
24:43So that we can thrive this year and
24:45that not just the so the adults can
24:48thrive and so that they can help the
24:51children thrive even to a greater degree.
24:54Thoughts on that Doctor Levitt,
24:55before maybe we'll start with
24:57you on this one.
24:59Sure, one of the things we've done is
25:02help people understand that we have
25:04worked under one system for decades,
25:06and we had lots of complaints about it.
25:09So now we have an opportunity
25:12to reinvent ourselves.
25:13And that's what we're doing.
25:15So all ideas are on the Table.
25:17#2. Nothing is perfect.
25:19Don't try to be perfect,
25:21just try to relax and a process
25:23process is 1 where we're all learning,
25:26and I think that as well that message for me.
25:30And from all of our leaders house people
25:33recognize we're not into penalizing.
25:35You were into learning together.
25:37I used the example of learning
25:40how to ride a bike.
25:42You fall off a few times,
25:45but you keep getting up and trying again,
25:48so that's what we're doing.
25:50Lots of practice,
25:51lots of encouragement,
25:52less a positive reinforcement,
25:54and I think reminding people that you have
25:57to take care of yourself first so you know.
26:01Reminding them about self care,
26:03exercising, taking good time to reflect,
26:05and recognizing that nothing is perfect.
26:07So I think that has helped bring
26:10the anxiety down, but also helped.
26:12US recognize that's the same need
26:14we have for students and parents,
26:17so let's just get re acquainted.
26:19Let's just learn who we are all over again
26:21and recognize what are feelings are.
26:24So then we can do the work that's beautiful.
26:27Thank you so much.
26:28I
26:28love the reinventing and not
26:30feeling like you have to be
26:32perfect on the first try right?
26:34So that will get it right,
26:36but we might make a few little.
26:39It might need to take a few
26:41little bird walks along the way.
26:43Michael Hagen, would you?
26:44You've done so much work with so many
26:47school systems across the country,
26:49can you share a little bit about what
26:52advice you might give to educators?
26:55I I would first of all start with
26:58making sure the Amazon everybody's
27:01committee and supporting him.
27:03And I hope you and your advising your State
27:07Department and with this suggestion you just
27:10gave Scholastic has a unique opportunity,
27:13an honor and privilege were ran
27:16over 90% of all schools in America.
27:20So districts and partners are partners
27:23in our families, our educators.
27:25They depend on us.
27:27How do we get through this
27:30difficult and tough time?
27:32And so that's a huge responsibility for us.
27:36But it's a huge honor and
27:39I remember after Katrina.
27:41Everyone was coming at us with.
27:44Here's here's the silver bullet and
27:46Scholastic knew there wasn't a silver bullet,
27:49but they understood as analysts.
27:51And here's an opportunity to actually we can.
27:54We can do this build even better.
27:58We can be even stronger.
27:59We can look at what we didn't consider
28:02before, and I don't want to confuse.
28:04We've over the last five months,
28:06we've been working very
28:07closely with our partners,
28:08in particular with our state partners.
28:10I'm talking about reopening and
28:12getting ready for this is great work.
28:14You just heard our two educators talk
28:16about and preparing their districts.
28:17And here's the opportunity to do that.
28:20And we're doing that as an set considering
28:22making sure you take care of yourself first,
28:25we had to learn that I had
28:27to learn the hard way that.
28:29There's a difference between dealing
28:31with trauma and dealing with social,
28:33emotional learning,
28:34and so when students come back,
28:36first of all,
28:37receiving those students in those
28:39families in those teachers in
28:41those educators involves adults,
28:43and those bus drivers and lunch aides.
28:45Everyone has gone through something
28:48so actually receiving that first and
28:50making sure that we're attending
28:52to herself and their self 1st,
28:54and that that requires having
28:56other experts in your district to
28:58support you around that license.
29:00Master social workers and counselors
29:02all being apart of it all working
29:05with from the adults to the students,
29:07to the entire community.
29:08And then when you able to do that
29:11and decide where we're going to be
29:13home or blended approach or remote,
29:16or in classrooms,
29:17how do we as an said another said,
29:19find out where our students are first
29:22and then build from their strengths.
29:24Don't look it as the deficit bill
29:26from where they are received,
29:28where they are,
29:29'cause it's been a learning experience
29:31too and then grow from there.
29:33I my biggest concern is my number.
29:36One concern is making sure that
29:38all children have access.
29:40The series books behind me to books to text,
29:44no matter where they are.
29:46They can escape their story.
29:48They can build their fluency.
29:49They had that opportunity to share
29:52what's happening and then write about
29:54it and talk about it and have their
29:56evidence throughout this entire experience.
29:59And of course we teach us have
30:02opportunity to work with their kids.
30:04But they may not be able to do
30:06it in a way they've done before.
30:08We're having all 24 kids or Harvard
30:10number kids they have at one time,
30:12but that reading allows each of
30:13those students to share their
30:15experience to learn about it and
30:16then do deal with it in writing.
30:18And then that she just understanding
30:19and reading it from there.
30:20So finding out where we are.
30:22Accepting that supporting us where
30:25we are and building a new community,
30:28building a stronger community and
30:31moving forward and accelerating
30:33students in academics.
30:34You went after an. You did a beautiful
30:37job of really helping extend,
30:39and I I concur with you after she
30:41should be on everyones committee.
30:43That that's great and you know we want
30:46children to see themselves in stories and
30:48we want them the stories to speak to them,
30:51especially during this time.
30:53So thank you also for differentiating
30:55that trauma and the social, emotional
30:57and how those both need to be dealt with.
31:00So thank you Jonathan.
31:01I think you had something you
31:03might want to add as well.
31:06So Michael gave me a perfect segue
31:08and my advice to educators is
31:09remembered that we learned over Covid
31:11is at school is all about community.
31:14And instead of trying to figure out
31:16how to do it right or the best way,
31:18if we can focus on what schools have
31:20always been about developing those
31:22relationships in that interdependence,
31:23best advice I would provide to all
31:25educators as they go back into this time.
31:28It's the one thing we can control is
31:30developing that sense of community.
31:32So I would advise all educators
31:33focus on developing
31:34those communities first and foremost.
31:36Jonathan, thank you.
31:37That was just tremendous and that.
31:39It's all about relationships, right?
31:40That? Community building
31:41those relationships so
31:42that we can work together.
31:44Thank you and Heather.
31:46I'm sure you might want
31:48to add something as well.
31:50Definitely
31:50my advice to educators is
31:53to give Yourself Grace.
31:55That you know in these ever changing times,
31:58grace is so important at this
32:01time and to Uplift one another,
32:03opportunities like today.
32:05Karen, where we're able to bring
32:07people together and share strategies
32:10that are successful and strategies
32:12that didn't work so that you don't
32:15have to duplicate those efforts
32:17is so important at this time.
32:19And that's what we've been
32:22focusing on at child.
32:23360 is engagement and reassuring that are.
32:26Providers are educators give
32:28themselves Grace and then they
32:30also give Grace to our families.
32:33Oh, beautiful, thank you.
32:35I definitely will treasure that one
32:37as well as we know there might be.
32:40We might be back in school.
32:43We might be out of school
32:45in doing totally remote.
32:47We might have that hybrid model and
32:50it could change at the drop of a hat.
32:53So what have we learned from the challenges
32:57and what lessons have we learned?
32:59From the remote learning that
33:01we had to go into so quickly,
33:05right it was crisis mode.
33:07OK, everything is now remote,
33:09and now we're in the that in
33:12certain time of both remote hybrid
33:14and so an everything in between.
33:17So what if we learn Dan?
33:20How do we face that?
33:22How do we face that differently now?
33:25Learning from the past?
33:27Heather,
33:27do you want to start with that?
33:32Sure, one of the things that we've
33:35learned is to individualize services,
33:37you know, by the context of the community,
33:40the schools, a family really dig deep and
33:43individualized those services like so
33:45many of my colleagues have said before me,
33:48we've had one system that you
33:50know has not worked for everyone.
33:52And so now we've had an opportunity to step
33:55back and look at how can we differentiate?
33:58How can we meet our dual language learners?
34:01How can we meet our children of color?
34:04How can we meet our children who are living?
34:07In poverty and meet them where they are
34:10at an ensure that they have the equitable
34:13resources and support that they need.
34:15And so I've appreciated that about I
34:18always look for the the shining star,
34:20the silver lining out of any situation,
34:23and I feel like that's what's emerged
34:25out of this ever shifting paradigm.
34:27And so I always encourage staff that
34:30when everything's out of control,
34:31control what you can control and
34:33that is yourself.
34:34And so you know,
34:36think about what you can offer to this
34:38individual family and this individual child.
34:41And bring them into existence,
34:42meet them where there are,
34:44where they're at, and help them to achieve.
34:47Thank you so much.
34:48Great so individualized services.
34:49So we've learned from that quick crisis.
34:52Shut down that now we have
34:53to do a better job with
34:55individualizing Jonathan. Did you?
34:57Would you like to weigh in on that one?
35:01Sure, I think one of the things we also
35:03learned is that school has not worked for
35:05many of our children for a long time.
35:08And when we were faced with
35:09this current situation,
35:10the data was right in front of us
35:12that there were students who benefited
35:13from brick and mortar school that
35:15really struggled when we moved to
35:17remote and there were students who
35:18struggled in the brick and mortar
35:20school and then in the opposite and we
35:22discovered there were some students
35:23who had not done well for years.
35:25But as soon as he moved into the remote
35:27session they started doing really well.
35:29So we've been forced to reexamine how we
35:31go about determining what students needs.
35:33Are and how we go about meeting
35:35them and that this did the silver
35:36lining in this is that we do have
35:39an opportunity to reinvent how we go
35:41about delivering learning for students.
35:42That is not just about the three Rs,
35:45but it's not about compliance.
35:46That it's not just about the things
35:48that we might feel are important.
35:50I believe that we are looking at our
35:52students differently now that their
35:53voices are being heard in terms of
35:55what they need socially, emotionally,
35:57academically, politically, spiritually,
35:58and awesome other ways as well.
35:59So I think that school has an opportunity
36:01to sort of re establish itself as.
36:03The most important structure in our society,
36:06and I believe we're
36:08up to that challenge.
36:09Oh I, I totally agree with you.
36:12Thank you so much.
36:13Great ideas of reinventing ourselves
36:15and how to help children learn
36:18differently in this particular era,
36:20Doctor Lavette.
36:21Would you like to continue the
36:23conversation in that realm
36:25of what have we learned about
36:27that and how are we doing?
36:30Well, I think we're doing well and I think
36:33we're helping people understand that.
36:35As Jonathan said,
36:36crisis and opportunity often come
36:38wrapped in the same package,
36:40and that this crisis has invited us
36:43to be innovative and to be creative.
36:46And we've seen it play out.
36:48We've seen our adaptability.
36:50We know that we have to be flexible
36:53and we need to move our skills
36:55and our communication into a way
36:58that helps people be comfortable.
37:00What we have with changing guidance.
37:02We just got different guidance yesterday
37:04from Georgia and it defies imagination,
37:07but we have it nonetheless and
37:09we need to be always aware of
37:11what's happening around us.
37:13We also need to be aware of the
37:16politics and the fact that we
37:18are impacted by the politics,
37:20especially leaders.
37:21You can't close our eyes to it and
37:24have to help the people who are
37:26on the end understand that some
37:29of these things are being driven.
37:31In ways that may not reflect a
37:34personal preferences or what we
37:36know is being was best for kids,
37:38we have to learn how to stand our
37:41ground and be willing to get the
37:43people behind us that helps us
37:45stand for what's best for kids.
37:48And that's what we are also doing.
37:50And then finally,
37:51I think we've learned to connect even
37:53under the most adverse situations.
37:55You know, the parades,
37:57the curbside celebrations, all those things.
37:59I don't know if they would have come about.
38:02Had we not had the pandemic,
38:05but we've learned about the human
38:07connection and how to maintain that
38:09even in the most difficult situations
38:12we are versatyle we are smart and we
38:14have learned how to get through this.
38:17We will continue to be adaptable,
38:19inflexible.
38:19Oh,
38:20thank you
38:21Doctor Lavette Michael can you talk
38:23a little bit about what you've seen,
38:25both from scholastic side and as
38:28you're working with districts now
38:30in helping them what we've learned
38:32and what those lessons learned
38:34are. I, I think one of the
38:36biggest things we've learned,
38:38Karen, is how valuable and
38:41important an our teachers are.
38:43Our entire nation has learned.
38:48Value teachers differently.
38:50It's not easy,
38:52and they've learned that their skills,
38:55what it takes to teach foundational
38:57skills to our youngest learners.
38:59What does it mean to sit with a 9th grade
39:03student and talk about world history?
39:06What does it mean to look to even
39:09start talking about multiple text?
39:12We also learn about the
39:14relationships that have to be there.
39:16Scholasticus talked about this
39:18for years and we've heard our
39:21colleagues say the same thing.
39:23Between the family and school
39:25and that partnership.
39:26That is critical.
39:27Unfortunately,
39:28is we have families and children
39:30in our rural areas in our
39:33marginalized communities that don't
39:34have the same access as others.
39:36We knew this, but now it has been heightened.
39:40You have students who were going
39:42home without any connection at all.
39:44You have students who are using
39:47just a cell phone in that cell
39:50phone with share it with all
39:52family members in the house,
39:54including the adults.
39:55And then you have students who are
39:58going home with multiple devices
39:59from past two computers to phones,
40:02and they always had that they've always
40:04had that access when we didn't have
40:07the pandemic and then again it was
40:09heightened and so that relationship
40:12between the home and the teachers
40:14and the school is even more important.
40:17And so we've learned a lot from that.
40:20We also learned that there are many students
40:23that we knew they were taken care of.
40:26But sometimes we often forgotten we,
40:27so we always talked about English as a second
40:30language or English language learners.
40:32But when they were home and they
40:34had to family members who did not,
40:36English didn't speak English at all.
40:38How do we support them?
40:40And so that wasn't put in place that
40:42we're doing a much better job at it.
40:44Now we're learning to move forward with that.
40:47And then more importantly
40:48and truly important,
40:49our students with disabilities.
40:51I'm from Siberia,
40:52profound disabilities to speech and
40:54language to learning disabilities.
40:56We had to learn how to literally
40:58conduct individual education plans
41:00and 504 plans over the phone.
41:02We had to sit down with family members
41:05in ways that we hadn't done before.
41:07We had to teach ourselves in schools
41:10what it meant to work with families
41:12via the phone and supporting
41:14our students with disabilities.
41:16And so this all has been an Ansett
41:19this very well we've learning how to.
41:22Structure and a new plan and a
41:24lot of this is coming up through.
41:27We're putting plans in place
41:29now for reopening.
41:30You heard Jonathan an talk
41:32about that and Heather.
41:34Ann,
41:34but these plans are foundations that
41:36will be used moving forward and on going,
41:39so we're learning a great deal
41:41from in the last five months.
41:43You know,
41:44New Orleans again was a
41:45huge learning experience,
41:47but for us as a company we couldn't ask for
41:50better partners in our school
41:52district then we have now and doing
41:54this work and move forward and
41:56growing together totally great.
41:58Thank you Michael.
41:59So we have just a couple of minutes left
42:02and I'd like you to think about a phrase.
42:05Um word, something that will embody
42:08what you would like to leave.
42:10This group was listening in today
42:13with as they begin a new school
42:16year as they work with children
42:19this year across the United States.
42:22What's the last words that you would
42:25like to leave today's panel and also our
42:29group with certainly one of the words
42:32I would like to to leave his hope and.
42:36Optimism and I love what one of you said.
42:39That crisis brings opportunity,
42:41and it certainly doesn't in many instances.
42:43So Jonathan,
42:44I'm going to start with you.
42:46Just very briefly,
42:48we only have a couple minutes left.
42:51Sure, I'm going to touch on my friend,
42:54Doctor Lovell Brown,
42:55the Superintendent Ithaca,
42:56who uses the word love,
42:58love ourselves, love our students,
42:59love our careers and
43:01this will turn out OK. Oh beautiful.
43:03Thank you so much. Doctor Harris.
43:08I'd like to leave everyone with the
43:11word focus focus on what's essential
43:14and focus on the foundations of
43:17learning and being human and closing
43:20that equity gap for one another.
43:23Beautiful thank you and Doctor Lavette.
43:27Well, I have used the word compassion.
43:31I think compassion is what we need.
43:34It allows us to be patient to
43:36be understanding and to talk,
43:38to forgive ourselves and forgive
43:40others when things don't work well.
43:42So I think practicing patience and
43:45compassion is what will get us through.
43:48Thank you Doctor Leventon Michael
43:50your last words. I'm going to
43:52use the word collaboration.
43:54This is a collaboration that we're doing.
43:56I don't want it to stop here.
43:59I'm noticing the questions
44:00that are coming up.
44:02I want the collaboration to continue
44:04this just been an honor to work with.
44:07Everyone on these last two days and
44:10learning so much and I'm looking
44:12forward to the collaboration continuing.
44:14So as we close our panel today.
44:17Love focus, hope.
44:18Optimism, compassion and collaboration.
44:20We hope that you and the audience have
44:23enjoyed this today and have found
44:25it very helpful as your wrestling
44:28with some of the most challenging
44:30and pressing issues that you have
44:33to deal with to help all children.
44:36An all students as we move forward.
44:39So as we conclude the panel it's going to.
44:42I want to thank each of you for amazing,
44:46just amazing information as the heartfelt.
44:49I work that you're doing,
44:51we please know that we value and
44:54appreciate everything that you are doing
44:57for your teachers for your stops for
45:00the parents out there for the children.
45:03The community itself.
45:04They need leaders like yourselves
45:06and we are very,
45:08very grateful that you spent your
45:11afternoon with us today and sharing so
45:14much great information and your your
45:16thoughts your deepest beliefs will all help.
45:20So as we conclude,
45:21our two days of wonderful learning and
45:25great collaboration and conversation,
45:28it's my great pleasure now to
45:31introduce our CEO and Chairman,
45:33Dick Robinson.
45:35So he has some concluding remarks for us,
45:39but an incredible leader,
45:41especially in these challenging times.
45:44So Dick,
45:45would you please take it away?