November 2020 - STORIES FROM SCHOOL AZ

A Call For Transparency

November 30, 2020Nicole Wolff Education, Education Policy, Elementary

“A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.” – Dalai Lama When schools began opening buildings for in-person learning a few months ago, assurances were given to staff members and families. Promises of safety protocols

On Crises

November 30, 2020Paul Forehand Uncategorized

I really doubt that anyone would argue with me if I were to say that we are in a crisis. The problem though, is one of definition. “Crisis” originally comes from the Greek krinein – To Decide. A crisis does not necessarily

Thank You Medical Staff

November 25, 2020Yolanda Wheelington Uncategorized

Today, 11/25/2020, at 8:09 am, I typed “frontline workers COVID” in my Google Chrome search. The following stories came up, all posted within the last 24 hours: TExas’ medical and frontline workers and vulnerable populations to get COVID-19 vaccine first

What’s Working Online

November 23, 2020Rachel Perugini Current Affairs, Life in the Classroom, Web/Tech

I, like so many teachers across the country, am still teaching online. My district has made the decision that we will be fully online until at least January (depending on the metrics), which means I am committed to doing my

Four Practices Worth Carrying Forward

November 19, 2020Sandy Merz Uncategorized

I have 11 desks in my classroom and zero periods in which they are all filled. Normally, I would have 32 desks and one or two classes completely full classes. Going into 3rd Period the other day, with 10 students,

All I ever really needed to know about teaching I learned in elementary school.

November 18, 2020James King Uncategorized

All I ever really needed to know about teaching I learned in elementary school. The luckiest thing to ever happen to me was that the world’s most fabulous teacher happened to work at the public school I attended as a

Snapshot of a Silent Classroom

November 17, 2020Amethyst Hinton Sainz Current Affairs, Education, Life in the Classroom

For the first time ever in my career, you can walk into my classroom almost any time these days and it is silent, students sitting facing forward in their desks. District policy dictates that the desks face the front of the

The Little Things

November 13, 2020Randi Fielding Education

Teaching is tough these days. No doubt about it. This blog post is not intended to minimize the very real suffering felt by teachers across Arizona. But it is meant to maximize the very real impact teachers are having on

The High Cost of Teaching

November 12, 2020Jaime Festa-Daigle Current Affairs, Education, Education Policy

Finding teachers has been challenging across Arizona for the past decade. Finding teachers has been all but impossible this year. Districts are contending with record openings. According to data from the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association, as of August 31st,

Hybrid’s Not Enough- A Case for a Full Return

November 10, 2020Maria Fallon Current Affairs, Education, Elementary

I was thrilled to begin hybrid instruction when my district decided to offer that option to families following fall break. I couldn’t wait to see my students in person. I was excited to see them interacting with their peers in