Safety and Support to Go Back to School

Back to school is normally a time of excitement – picking out new supplies, swapping summer stories and opening a new textbook. COVID-19 has changed what back to school will look like — whether in-person or virtual. Education leaders at our Virtual Voices on Back to School shared just what the school year might look like.

Virtual Voices aims to keep Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation alums informed and engaged as our community works through this challenging time. Each virtual meeting brings together leaders on the front lines of impacted industries to share their knowledge, perspectives and leadership lessons.

Last week Susana Cordova, DPS superintendent, Mike Miles, CEO at Third Future Schools, and Elizabeth Reyes, graduate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College, discussed the importance of in-person learning, how to keep students and teachers safe and how they’re adapting to the continuous changes from COVID-19.

Check out our key takeaways and the video of the webinar below.

Adapt fast. The pandemic abruptly hit schools this past spring where students were in school one day and then virtual for the rest of the school year. Schools had to adapt fast to continue education and are continuing to have to make changes. Data has been key for schools to make quick decisions. Data allows for districts to implement plans to keep their people safe based on guidance from health experts.

Public education is essential. Our community has to figure out a way to operate and keep staff and students safe. Focus on safety and achievement. Students can’t afford to take a pass on achievement to stay on track. We need to have conversations about why our education system is essential. We need to support our teachers and be transparent with them on what it means to be a teacher during COVID-19.

And, to keep our teachers and students safe, we need the supplies to do so. Education leaders are relying on partnerships to create a safe environment and provide essential resources. Resources are still needed. If you have laptops, time or are able to donate, contact your local school district to see how you can help.

School is more than learning. Students go to school for resources beyond education – food access, mental health support, mentorship and more. It’s critical to have those resources in the conversation when deciding between virtual or in-person learning. School is a support system that needs to continue to be there for students and their families.

Focus on the opportunity gap. Before COVID-19 there was an opportunity gap and the pandemic brought it to the forefront. We have an opportunity to talk about the gap and work to address it. We need to make sure all kids are getting the education they need to succeed.

We also have the opportunity to create a common language on how we talk about racism in our schools. Focus on how and what we’re teaching about racial history and how we can create an inclusive curriculum.

Reduce community spread. Wear a mask and wash your hands. It’s our community’s responsibility to keep the spread down. Reducing the community spread increases the ability to start in-person learning.