Teachers need more resources to educate during COVID-19
As we enter the second quarter of a school year defined by a global pandemic, it has become clear that one of the biggest challenges facing teachers and families is navigating the uncertainty of virtual, in-person, and hybrid teaching environments.
As a mother of three boys, I, like so many other parents across the state of Florida, am left juggling the challenges of these new learning environments alongside my own professional responsibilities. And as the executive director of Teach For America (TFA) Jacksonville and Central Florida, I recognize the stark inequities that exist for so many families in this moment.
Many students in the communities our teachers serve throughout Jacksonville and Central Florida, have been disproportionately affected by lack of access to virtual learning equipment and stable learning environments. And without taking action to ensure students have what they need to thrive, those who have been negatively impacted most will inevitably fall through the cracks.
For this reason, in a time of national crisis, Duval County and Orange County teachers, including 2,200 TFA teachers and alumni, have answered the call and stepped up by maximizing online learning tools such as Brainpop, Big Blue Button, Canvas, Homeroom, iReady, Microsoft Teams, and countless others to bolster 21st-century skill building, with growing success.
In the face of adversity, educators are knocking down barriers to learning, and prioritizing relationships with students and family members through the use of 1:1 conference modules to better understand individual needs. Across the country, teachers have shifted to utilizing pop culture in an effort to peak student interest in digital learning tools and materials. And in some specific cases, teachers have even provided door-todoor assignment and school supply delivery. But this level of effort should not lie solely with teachers.
In a recent piece published by Education and Career News, Teach For America CEO, Elisa Villanueva Beard offered three actions: increasing internet access, provision of essential learning tools, and community advocacy for quality teaching — as key components to moving our students forward.
In the wake of COVID-19, lack of access to technology and critical resources are persistently disconnecting our most vulnerable students at alarming rates. However, with the right resources and quality educators this does not have to be a persistent reality.
Since the emergence of COVID-19, both Duval County and Orange County public schools have provided laptops to all students, and internet hotspots were provided to qualifying students. Through collaboration with our partners at Read USA, TIAA Bank, State Farm, and Siemens Energy, we were able to host a school supply drive impacting 4,400 students.
While the 2020-21 school year is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges we have ever faced, I believe it is incumbent upon all organizations and businesses to step up and join efforts to ensure this is not a lost year for students across our state.