District Leaders on the Next Normal in K-12 Education

5/27/2021

In this episode
Throughout our New Normal series, we've been following K-12 district leaders from across the country as they grapple with the challenges of leading educators and students through a pandemic. In this episode, we look ahead to the next normal and imagine what school might look like for the 2021-22 academic year.

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Final thoughts
What has been one practice that came about as a result of the pandemic, that you think should remain? What have you learned or experienced over the past year that could potentially expand teaching and learning?

Darius Adamson
Orlando, FL

I am curious about how school design will change and will be impacted by all these variables that we've had to deal with during the pandemic. I think there are opportunities to look at doing school a little bit differently, particularly when you look at using digital platforms and the way that we conduct meetings now with teachers and staff. We can really bring those things to scale and capitalize on the familiarity we now have with that format.

Michelle Aquino
North Plainfield, NJ

We started having conversations around the trauma that our staff is facing, including the trauma of teaching from empty classrooms. That led us to a practice called Wellness Wednesdays — twice a month, our team reflects in small groups on the spirit of human connection.

Mark Madson
Nazareth, PA

The idea of a one-size-fits-all schedule isn't always the best for everyone. We learn at different rates, think about things differently, and work in different capacities and on different timelines. Having some flexible options for students to choose from can help their learning and allow them to have more of a voice in what works for them.