When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity. – John F. Kennedy
When school districts open this fall for the 2021-22 school year, the challenges faced in the previous 18 months will likely have reshaped everything from the delivery of education and immediate operational functions to longer-term strategic goals for many communities.
It is a reassuring and positive outgrowth from one of public education’s most upending experiences. And though the uncertainty of COVID-19 continues to shroud the expectations of administrators, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which it forced administrators to re-imagine education. Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, the school superintendent’s association, told the Washington Post in a March 15, 2021, article, “There are a lot of positives that will happen because we’ve been forced into this uncomfortable situation. The reality is that this is going to change education forever.”
That is both a cause for hope and a call for action. The coronavirus pandemic highlighted truths for the nation, which education equity seekers have been declaring for years. It compelled educators who may have resisted technology as a teaching tool to embrace it. Concepts such as the “accelerated learning, personalized learning and individualized pathways for students” were thrust from the shadows into mainstream solution-oriented conversations. Never before has the potential to re-imagine public schools been engaged upon on this scope and at this level.
For some districts, the change is immediate and has taken the form of new virtual schools opening for students whose unique needs were proven best met by remote education models. Others are working feverishly to implement new strategies grounded in student learning acceleration. Some districts have strengthened parent engagement opportunities having developed stronger relationships with parents and guardians during the pandemic. Still yet, district leaders are going to have to be intentional in their efforts to bring students and families back into the fold.
These re-imaginations foster feelings of encouragement for the future of public education. My wish for educators as the new school year gets underway is that this sense of hope is harnessed, celebrated, and made actionable even under the uncertainties caused by COVID-19 and now the Delta variant.
I remind everyone to be kind to yourself and protective of your health—whether that means masking, taking the vaccine, social distancing and/or any and all other health and safety measures that may best serve you and your community. As educators, you are often the leaders who families, students and your peers look to for guidance and as exemplars. I am confident your passion and dedication will continue to drive you and inspire others as we embark on the 2021-22 school year.