Symposium looks at education after the pandemic

A free online community symposium on how schools will look beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and set for 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday will try to answer ‘what’s next.’

The featured speaker is Sara A. Sneed, who became president and chief executive officer of the National Education Association Foundation in 2019. She will lead a discussion on the future of schools and what can be done to engage parents in student learning.

The Bridgeport Public Education Fund and the Connecticut Education Association are co-presenting the symposium on zoom. The event is free but advanced registration is required.

Educators, parents, students, business and community members from across the state are invited to join one of several break-out groups to discuss everything from learning styles and addressing social-emotional needs to accommodating students with special needs and the role of community and business organizations in the schools.

Sneed joined the NEA Foundation after almost 20 years spent with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, one of the nation’s largest community foundations. At the Hartford Foundation, Sneed’s focus was on promoting educational equity and excellence.

An ordained clergywoman, she is a former chair of the Board of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ and holds an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School at Yale University.

For more information, contact Faith Villegas at 203-331-0551 or Fvillegas@bpef.org or visit http:// bpef.org/index/index.html