A challenge unlike any other in recent history faces educators today

I have been asked a lot of questions as we get closer to a Fall start date for schools. Let me up be front and say that COVID-19 is a situation unlike anything I have seen in my near 36 years in education. After earning two degrees in the field, being a classroom teacher, an administrator, and now a school board member, I still do not know all of the answers to this challenge. This is a unique situation. I have been spending hours daily researching and studying. I have been listening and talking with parents, as well as community leaders. I also have daily conversations with other educators from around the state. There has also been a lot of time alone reflecting and thinking. Differing opinions on the best approaches are seemingly everywhere. Data is changing every day. Conflicting ideas and mandates from different places abound. Again, I do not know all of the answers today, and even if I thought I did, something would likely change tomorrow that would alter that. The fluidity of the situation is only adding to the challenge.

I wish that as a school board member and lifelong educator I could tell you I know all of the answers today but to do so would be dishonest. What I can tell you though is that those of us in education are trying to do the best that we can in the midst of this crisis. It keeps me up at night. And to the community, I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve in a time such as this. It’s been my life’s mission to educate children. Daily I remind myself how fortunate I am that I get to follow my life’s mission in the midst of this challenge, as well as the other challenges we see in educating our children. Together we will get through this.