Helping homeless students in the pandemic; Proposed changes to early childhood education

Plus: Processing the Capitol riot; DeVos resigns

No. 466 | 01/14/21 | Subscribe to this newsletter This issue is sponsored by The vaccine rollout has started off slow, but it's soldiering on. The latest update: Teachers and school workers in some states are next in line—called category 1b, just after healthcare workers and older adults. Some smaller California counties, where healthcare workers have already received shots, are offering vaccine appointments to new groups, including teachers (though larger counties like Los Angeles aren't there yet.)     Unions in states such as Texas and Utah are fighting to get teachers moved up in line. Kentucky is weighing how to prioritize vaccine rollouts among staff of different ages and pre-existing conditions. New York is dealing with a similar issue, relying on an "honor system" officials hope will favor in-person staff over those working remotely.  As for the question of whether educators will take the vaccine, that one's easier to answer: Around three fourths indicated interest in one survey, and in places like Louisville, Ky., nearly 9 in 10 have already put up their hands. 🤔 REMOTE POSSIBILITIES   SUPPORT SYSTEMS: For students experiencing homelessness, schools are a lifeline, providing crucial support services including food. But the pandemic has severed those connections, worrying school liaisons who are working much harder to identify and support students. "You're having the greatest moment of inequality in my lifetime," says one such liaison. We look at how he's connecting with families despite the challenges.   RADICAL CHANGES AFOOT: The pandemic has given many families a newfound appreciation for early childhood educators, who are integral to the economy. With child care in the public spotlight, proponents and practitioners in the field want to use this moment to reimagine what early childhood educator development could look like. The ideas they've come up with, from a "Premier University" to new pathways for career advancement, are bold indeed.    HIGH HOPES: "We have passed the Winter Solstice, and the days are inching toward the longer daylight hours of summer," writes school librarian and EdSurge columnist Kimberly Rues. That's given her a newfound feeling of hope after a trying year, and has inspired her to pick up books that nourish such optimism. She recommends her top picks—from novels to picture books—to inspire hope in kids and adults alike.  📆 GOINGS ON MMERSIVE INSTRUCTION Interactive 3D experiences are becoming more common, but how can this technology be used to teach core subjects and prepare students for a changing job market? Panelists will answer those questions and more in this panel discussion on real-time technology and interactive 3D in the classroom. Register now. The following is a message from our sponsor The Education Essentials Company™ Cambium Learning® Group is an intentionally curated family of companies providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 markets. We focus on the elements that are essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a difference right now. 🎧 ON THE PODCAST   PROCESSING THE CAPITOL MOB: Last week's violent riot at the U.S. Capitol raised many questions. Among them: How can schools and colleges foster a stronger sense of civic education and engagement? One history professor says higher education is partly to blame for last week's events. Here's why—and why he remains optimistic about the future of U.S. democracy.  🏫 ALL SCHOOL  DEVOS RESIGNS: Last Thursday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned over the assault on the U.S. Capitol in a letter that both reflected on the accomplishments under her watch and offered a sharp rebuke to President Trump. "There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation," DeVos wrote. "Impressionable children are watching all of this, and they are learning from us." Other education groups shared reactions and resources of their own. Highlights and more here. 📚 FROM THE ARCHIVES   SEEKING COUNSEL: Nationwide, there is one school counselor for every 455 K-12 students. That's almost twice as many students as the American School Counselor Association says one person can reasonably manage, and it means most are spending their days "just putting out fires," as one expert put it. EdSurge examines what two school districts are doing to tackle the problem and address the national mental health crisis. 🐝 BUZZ ABOUT TOWN   Medical accommodations for at-risk teachers vary widely by district. (The 74)   A new toolkit from nonprofit Student Privacy Compass provides best practices for communicating with educators, parents and students about privacy.  IT and curriculum leaders share how hybrid learning can work effectively. (Edtech Magazine) Looking for a job in edtech? You've come to the right place. EdSurge has the leading edtech jobs board in the industry with openings from schools, nonprofits and companies. Post a job | See all jobs Executive Director | The Mission Preparatory School | San Francisco, CA Seeking an experienced leader to continue the school's record of academic excellence & cultivate a deep sense of belonging for all. This individual will work with the board and school to develop/execute against a vision for the next ten years.   Executive Director | Lead By Learning | Oakland, CA This is a terrific leadership opportunity to come into a well-established org with an impeccable reputation for building learning communities among teachers and principals. The new ED will manage the staff, finance, operations, and fund development.   Chief Information Officer | Mary Institute and Country Day School | St. Louis, MO MICDS seeks a chief information officer, starting July 1, 2021, to oversee all areas of technology: strategy, infrastructure, data and web applications, support services, and instructional technology.   Online Coding and Computer Science Instructor | Create & Learn | Remote We are looking for passionate, enthusiastic teachers who want to share their love of computer science with students in grades k through 9. Our cutting-edge curriculum is ready to use–no need to design, test, and iterate on your own curriculum.   Curriculum Designer | Next Gen Personal Finance | Palo Alto, CA or Remote We are looking for a passionate and energetic professional to expand our personal finance curriculum and resources to meet the needs of economics teachers.   Middle School Computer Science Teacher | The Blake School | Hopkins, MN The Blake School seeks to hire a full-time, dynamic grade 6-8 computer science teacher for the 2021-22 school year.   Events Post an event • See all events and meetups   Teaching Purposeful Minds Apr 17-18 | Online | More than $250  This virtual conference will explore the importance of purpose, connections (including love and belonging), and curiosity and exploration, and how they can help support learning, coping, and personal growth. THANKS FOR READING   ➔ Got any feedback? We love hearing from readers. Shoot us a note, critiques, a joke—whatever you've got! ➔ Interested in reaching our readers? Sponsor this newsletter. ➔ Event planners: Feature your in-person or virtual event on our calendar & newsletters. EdSurge covers and connects the people, ideas and technologies that shape the future of learning. We are an independent news and research initiative of the International Society for Technology in Education. International Society for Technology in Education, 621 SW Morrison Street, Suite 800, Portland, Oregon 97205, USA, 800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 503.342.2848 (Int'l) Unsubscribe Manage preferences