If you are like me, you are trying to avoid a lot of the news around COVID-19 and the pandemic. This blog post, written on the heels of me learning that my state’s schools are closed for the rest of the academic year, deals not with the disease itself or the current state of affairs, but rather asks the question, “So, now what?” 

If there is anything that this pandemic has shown us, it is how tightly schools are woven into the communities they serve. I have been truly moved by how well my own district has responded, finding ways to feed and support our community in the midst of bizarre and terrifying times. As schools move forward, there will be many proposals for how we can change and how we can continue to deliver a strong education in a world that seems profoundly changed. I do not know the answer to how schools will change—and you don’t either. And anyone who tells you they do at this point could be charitably called well-intentioned but hubristic. But here are some of the things that I think are important to look at as we move into this new model. 

• We must reform in ways that address social justice and equity for kids. 

One of the things that we have seen through this experience is how low-income kids have been particular victims of this shutdown. Many rely on the schools as their safe places, their safety nets, and their food centers. However, schools are almost never recognized for the work that they do in that area. Guidance, school psychology, and counseling budgets are often ones that are cut when money has to be trimmed from the budget, leaving incredible professionals scrambling to do more to address kids' mental and physical health with fewer and fewer resources. Our schools’ counseling staffs are doing the work of angels during this time and we must recognize that work, not with clapping, coffee mugs, or thanks, but with funding and resources. 

• We must reform in ways that recognize the roles that educators have at home during shutdowns and the burden that remote education places on working mothers.

I am not a mother and I would not, for a moment, pretend to know what so many working parents are going through right now. But coming from a profession where the majority of employees are women, I know that we must take this into account when we look at changes to our current model. I offer huge applause to districts that are embracing ideas like asynchronous instruction, flexible schedules for remote learning, and multiple ways to communicate with students and families. But for every district like that, there are others who are conducting remote observations, making parents find child care while working at home, or demanding things from their teachers that are completely at odds with being able to parent. I can only hope that administrators will take into account the incredible responsibility that is falling on so many women right now and will work to make a model that works for all. 

• We must build a concept of well-being, both physical and emotional, into our school and district cultures. 

If you are like me, you know a lot of people who go to work when they are sick. I will admit that I am guilty of it. We see it as a badge of honor, as a show of how dedicated we are to our schools and our kids. As hard as it is for me to say, we’ve really got to stop it. We need to stop prioritizing the organization over our personal health because the organization can’t run without our personal health. This means that districts need to provide sick leave, substitute teachers, and support for teachers who are out for extended absences. In all likelihood, we will be dealing with the threat of COVID-19 for another school year—so let’s show people that their physical health is important to us and that taking time off when you are ill isn’t a burden to the organization—it is a responsibility. 

It is hard to think about what next year will look like. Right now, it is all many of us can do to keep from crying as we think about what our kids are losing this year and what we are missing every day. Remote learning is tough, but I am glad that so many districts have embraced it as a way to keep kids connected with their teachers and their school communities. Parents, if you are worried about where kids will be educationally this year, don’t worry, we’ve got this. You just stay sane, stay safe, and don’t stress too much about screen time. We’re all just trying to make it through the day. Our schools will evolve, our teachers will teach, and our kids will learn. And our incredible districts will be there to feed them in the meantime. 

-Amy