District and school leaders are confronting difficult, high-stakes decisions as they plan for how and if they will reopen school buildings this fall as the global pandemic rages on. Safety for students and staff members is the chief priority. But with no vaccine or effective treatment yet against COVID-19, no one can be fully shielded from the risk. There are no playbooks for how to do this.
Many of the options and requirements for reopening schools will upend some of the most effective aspects of teaching and learning. Following public health protocols will cost a lot of money, even as school budgets are pummeled by the economic collapse. Managing the anxieties of teachers, students, and parents will require patience, compassion, and careful communication.
To help district and school leaders navigate these monumental decisions, our journalists and expert guests will discuss with you, the Education Week reader, some of the biggest challenges ahead and offer ideas and solutions that you can use and adapt for your districts and schools.
Agenda
1:00–3:00 p.m. ET | Discussions Open
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Student Achievement
The 'COVID-19 Slide': Measuring and Addressing Learning Losses
New research is already showing major setbacks to academic achievement in the months of disrupted schooling forced by COVID-19, with estimates that some students will have lost as much as a full school year’s worth of learning gains. How can districts and schools effectively measure and diagnose the learning losses? What types of interventions and staffing changes can be deployed to address the losses?
Lesli Maxwell is managing editor. She also writes The Savvy Principal newsletter.
Luvelle Brown
Superintendent,
Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, N.Y.
Misael Ramos
Teacher,
Springfield, Mass.
Nathaniel Schwartz
Professor of Practice at Brown University and a Leader in Brown’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Student Well-Being
Supporting Students’ Social-Emotional and Mental Health Needs
Students will return to schools this fall with profound social-emotional and mental health needs. Some will be traumatized by COVID-19’s impact on their families and communities and many could be anxious about their health and safety. How can schools and districts prioritize and balance those needs with addressing deep academic losses?
Arianna Prothero is a reporter at Education Week who covers students and their well-being.
Stephanie M. Jones
Gerald S. Lesser Professor of Child Development and Education,
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Ray Lozano
Executive Director, Student and Family Empowerment,
El Paso Independent School District, Texas
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
School & District Management
How Can Remote Learning Improve This Fall?
Even if most schools reopen with live attendance on some or all days, there’s almost no question that they will need to continue some remote learning—to protect high-risk teachers and students and as a way to manage numbers of people in a building at any given time. How can schools and districts be better prepared to deliver robust instruction more consistently? What are the major lessons from the spring’s abrupt and chaotic shift to virtual teaching?
Mark Lieberman is a reporter for Education Week covering technology and online learning.
Jhone Ebert
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
Nevada Department of Education
Oscar Rico
IT Director,
Canutillo Independent School District, Texas
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Teaching Profession
What Teachers’ Jobs Will Look Like
Wearing masks or face shields. Smaller class sizes. One day in the building. Another day teaching from home. There are countless scenarios for how teaching will look this fall. What will teachers need most to be prepared to face an unprecedented start to an academic year and what can districts and schools do to support the transition back into the classroom?
Catherine Gewertz is a writer for Education Week who covers national news and features.
Sarah Schwartz is a reporter for Education Week who covers curriculum and instruction.
Emily Freitag
Co-Founder and CEO,
Instruction Partners
Scott Marion
President and Executive Director,
National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Equity & Diversity
Creating an Equitable Return to School
As classrooms reopen, how can districts and schools guarantee that the students who need the most support for their learning actually get it? What decisions should be made through an “equity lens?” and what strategies can administrators use to ensure that students who’ve fallen most behind by the prolonged closures of school buildings don’t lose even more ground?
Christina Samuels formerly covered educational equity for Education Week.
Stephanie Hawley
Chief Equity Officer,
Austin Independent School District, Texas
Ace Parsi
Director of Innovation,
National Center for Learning Disabilities
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Reading & Literacy
Accelerate Learning for Struggling Readers During Unprecedented Times
Content provided by Learning Ally
Join Terrie Noland, Learning Ally VP Educator Initiatives, CALP in Literacy and other K-12 leaders in an open discussion about how to support educators in meeting the needs of struggling readers this fall. She will be discussing strategies to quickly assess students' reading ability and to provide support so struggling readers can catch up and keep pace with their peers. Strategies around indicators, interventions, and accommodations will be discussed.
Join Terrie Noland, Learning Ally VP Educator Initiatives, CALP in Literacy and other K-12 leaders in an open discussion about how to support educators in meeting the needs of struggling readers this fall. She will be discussing strategies to quickly assess students' reading ability and to provide support so struggling readers can catch up and keep pace with their peers. Strategies around indicators, interventions, and accommodations will be discussed.
Terrie Noland
VP Educator Initiatives,
Learning Ally
Joelle Nappi
Dyslexia Therapist and Special Education Teacher,
Freehold Township, Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School, N.J.
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Student Achievement
Addressing Gaps in Learning
Content provided by Cognia
With the challenges that reopening schools brings, addressing gaps in learning needs dynamic discussion and customized solutions. In this booth, learn best practices that:
With the challenges that reopening schools brings, addressing gaps in learning needs dynamic discussion and customized solutions. In this booth, learn best practices that:
- Examine the importance of the alignment of curricula to rigorous standards within and across grade levels
- Explore how educators can use formative assessment processes to identify students' understanding and gaps in foundational knowledge as they begin a new year
- Discuss differentiated instruction, with a particular focus on acceleration rather than remediation
Holly King
Ph.D., Vice President, Improvement Services,
Cognia
Amy McVey
Vice President, Improvement Services,
Cognia
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Teaching
Connecting School and Home: How to Find Your Focus for Back to School
Content provided by Istation
Returning to school will be a journey for us all. But despite unprecedented circumstances, educators will continue to assess, monitor progress, teach and differentiate instruction while leading students toward skill growth.
This interactive discussion will help equip educational leaders interested in strengthening the school-to-home connection. Join Istation professional development experts and former educators Kathryn Simmons and Tina Cole to learn how to make sound instructional decisions whether the learning takes place in person or remotely, discover best practices to get school-wide buy-in, and implement learning systems with ease. Plus, connect with peers in the booth to hear what’s working in other K-8 classrooms as well as share tips to improve parent communication and more.
Returning to school will be a journey for us all. But despite unprecedented circumstances, educators will continue to assess, monitor progress, teach and differentiate instruction while leading students toward skill growth.
This interactive discussion will help equip educational leaders interested in strengthening the school-to-home connection. Join Istation professional development experts and former educators Kathryn Simmons and Tina Cole to learn how to make sound instructional decisions whether the learning takes place in person or remotely, discover best practices to get school-wide buy-in, and implement learning systems with ease. Plus, connect with peers in the booth to hear what’s working in other K-8 classrooms as well as share tips to improve parent communication and more.
Kathryn Simmons
Professional Development Specialist,
Istation
Tina Cole
Digital Professional Development Specialist,
Istation
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Teaching
Developing a Brick-to-Click Learning Environment
Content provided by Edgenuity
Building a well-functioning brick-to-click learning environment—one that enables you to switch between in-person (brick) and virtual (click) instruction—requires innovation, planning, and adaptability. What training will teachers need? Will your curriculum enable you to switch between brick and click? What social and emotional supports are critical for your students and teachers? How can teachers motivate students in this new learning environment? Discover the steps you can take to reopen your school doors and prepare your school or district community with the support they need to continue learning in any setting.
Building a well-functioning brick-to-click learning environment—one that enables you to switch between in-person (brick) and virtual (click) instruction—requires innovation, planning, and adaptability. What training will teachers need? Will your curriculum enable you to switch between brick and click? What social and emotional supports are critical for your students and teachers? How can teachers motivate students in this new learning environment? Discover the steps you can take to reopen your school doors and prepare your school or district community with the support they need to continue learning in any setting.
Deborah Rayow
Vice President, Instructional Design & Learning Science,
Edgenuity
Heidi Kenworthy
Assistant Principal, RRPS District Administrator Online Blended Learning,
Rio Rancho Cyber Academy
Wes Hurley
Dean of Students,
Albuquerque Public Schools
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Student Well-Being
Focused on how to best support your students? We can help!
Content provided by Pearson
Addressing your students’ needs holistically—academically from measuring and screening learning challenges to assessing and monitoring behavior and social-emotional capabilities—while ensuring equity throughout your classroom seems like a big task, but having the right resources and support in place will lighten your load immeasurably.
Our team of experts is here to help with:
Addressing your students’ needs holistically—academically from measuring and screening learning challenges to assessing and monitoring behavior and social-emotional capabilities—while ensuring equity throughout your classroom seems like a big task, but having the right resources and support in place will lighten your load immeasurably.
Our team of experts is here to help with:
- Screening guidelines for the return to school
- Using SEL to build resilience
- Benchmarking, assessing, and monitoring progress for behavior and literacy challenges
- Putting an MTSS system together (and what tools to use)
Chris Huzinec
M.S.,
Pearson
Doug Maraffa
Ed.D.,
Pearson
Liz Grose
SSP NCSP,
Pearson
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Student Achievement
How Diagnostic Tools, Interventions & Critical Thinking Guide Back-to-School Instructional Planning
Content provided by Mentoring Minds
Overcoming learning loss and preparing students for success are critical. Join Mentoring Minds to discuss how diagnostic tools, interventions, and the 9 Traits of Critical Thinking™ can help address learning gaps and promote deeper thinking this year and beyond.
Overcoming learning loss and preparing students for success are critical. Join Mentoring Minds to discuss how diagnostic tools, interventions, and the 9 Traits of Critical Thinking™ can help address learning gaps and promote deeper thinking this year and beyond.
Ladona Cook
M.Ed., Instructional Design Manager,
Mentoring Minds
Charles Fuhrken
Ph.D., VP, Curriculum Development,
Mentoring Minds
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Teaching
Driving Engagement While Teaching Remotely
Content provided by Promethean
Regardless of how we go back to school, driving engagement to make up for learning gaps will be critical. Let’s chat about best practices education consultants are seeing schools implement as they start the new year. In our booth, learn how to:
Regardless of how we go back to school, driving engagement to make up for learning gaps will be critical. Let’s chat about best practices education consultants are seeing schools implement as they start the new year. In our booth, learn how to:
- Evaluate your new remote/hybrid learning environments
- Introduce rigor into lesson development and engagement
- Leverage SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition) to help teachers adopt and embrace technology in new learning scenarios
- Deliver the right level of assessment to the right students
- Use polling to drive engagement
- Introduce apps, add-ons, and extensions to improve workflows
- Set teachers up for success in the NEW ‘school’
Angela Ardoin
Head of Learning and Development,
Promethean, North America
1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Classroom Technology
Sustainability and Management of a True 1:1 Technology Program for Students
Content provided by Stratix
In today’s unprecedented environment, the education system is being asked to create virtual classrooms in situations where there may not be the technology or support systems in place. Whether you are deploying Chromebooks or tablets, managing a sustainable 1:1 technology program is complex. Once the devices go home, the "surprises" begin. What happens when a device breaks? What if a student needs help after hours? How can you make the program sustainable year-over-year? What considerations do you have in place for online safety of students using school-issued devices?
In today’s unprecedented environment, the education system is being asked to create virtual classrooms in situations where there may not be the technology or support systems in place. Whether you are deploying Chromebooks or tablets, managing a sustainable 1:1 technology program is complex. Once the devices go home, the "surprises" begin. What happens when a device breaks? What if a student needs help after hours? How can you make the program sustainable year-over-year? What considerations do you have in place for online safety of students using school-issued devices?
Erik Anderson
Vice President, Enterprise Sales and Public Sector,
Stratix
Bob Plant
Senior Mobile Solutions Architect,
Stratix
Jeff Reistad
Senior Vice President,
Bark for Schools