Those of us who are preparing for school to start during the next few weeks are anticipating that students may return with some very interesting challenges. Since Lakeside schools and programs deal with students who have struggled in their ability to succeed in their school, we recognize some of the needs that students will present to their teachers. We have had a significant number of requests for more in-school counselors to help schools and students deal with some of the ramifications of COVID-19.
Josh Thomases, Executive Vice President of the Great Oaks Foundation has written an article in the Hechinger Report about some of the reasons that educators will be facing significant challenges as students return to school this fall. Here are some excerpts from his article:
Imagine that it’s summer, 2022. The pandemic is a fading memory and data is being released from the first state assessments of student learning in three years.
What will the data tell us? Despite the best efforts of thousands of us in education, I am deeply afraid of the answer — and specifically what it will reveal along lines of race and class.
Educators are painfully aware of the task ahead of us, stretching ourselves to find solutions for the children and families we serve. I am one of those educators.
As executive vice president of the Great Oaks Foundation, I work closely with schools on a model built on high-dosage tutoring, which has demonstrated success in accelerating learning.
We know that post-pandemic schooling is going to require a new approach. Still, the public discourse has vastly understated the challenges of the new normal we will face when schools reopen in a few short weeks.
I offer four causes for alarm……..
Here is the link to the rest of the article. He goes on to discuss the four causes that we all have for alarm as well as some strategies for what schools must do to meet these challenges as we all face the realities of post-pandemic schooling.
For all of us who are working with students and families, this next school year may be a significant turning point for whether they stay in a cycle that is not healthy or make some significant changes that will lead them to success and growth. I hope all of our schools and respective staff members will rise to meet the needs of their students to recover and create new momentum for academic and personal growth in this very important transitional year.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
