Moving Forward in a Time of Uncertainty The Association of Independent Maryland Schools serves 120 schools in Maryland and the District of Columbia. AIMS Executive Director Peter F. Baily, who has led the organization for the past six years, has spent the summer putting his entire focus on school reopening plans. We asked him a few questions about what to expect from independent schools as they face the coming year. The pandemic has fast-tracked sweeping changes in independent school teaching practices. How do you foresee these changes affecting schools post-pandemic? Will virtual classes, zoom meetings, and online learning become parts of the independent schools for good? Independent schools are learning a lot from this new experience with virtual teaching and learning. We are learning that some subjects and pedagogical techniques lend themselves well to the virtual environment, and that some do not. We see that some learners adapt to virtual learning eagerly, and for other learners, it's not compatible with their learning style. In the future, we will see innovative new ways of using technology to support teaching and learning to advance the capabilities of both faculty and students, regardless of whether we are responding to a virus like Covid 19.
This summer, students of color shared how uncomfortable many still feel on independent school campuses. How can the schools do better? AIMS schools all have a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The process of creating truly just and inclusive school communities evolves over time, and a look back at each school's history shows steps forward in inclusion and justice, and also failures. The painful stories we are hearing from students and families of color are essential to the development of our schools, and they provide opportunities for our schools to listen, to learn, and, most important, to act. Systemic racism is an entrenched element of our society, and our independent schools must work to address it and to demonstrate leadership in so doing. Our AIMS schools are spending significant resources on professional development for faculty and administrators in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and significant resources on programming for students. We still have much more work to do to become places of authentic inclusion and equity, and this crucial work will continue into the future as we continue to learn together. Our schools will become stronger educational institutions and more powerful human communities because of this work.
What are independent schools doing to protect teachers and make it safe to return to the classroom? AIMS schools have spent enormous amounts of time doing research, seeking expert advice, and developing scenarios that will enable them to open safely, when the time comes. Schools have prepared for multiple possibilities and have remained flexible and nimble in the face of a virus that is constantly surprising us and requiring us to change course. Plans include creative strategies for the delivery of educational programming, new ways of moving and accommodating people on campus, use of outdoor spaces, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, changes in food service practices, phased and staggered scheduling and, of course, a variety of models for virtual learning. The safety of our students and employees is paramount. How have the schools helped families with tuition during these uncertain times? Schools have employed a number of different strategies in supporting families during these uncertain times, including emergency financial aid, tuition credits, and restructured tuition models. Just as families are stretched financially, so are schools. Campuses must be maintained, even when students are absent, and employees must be supported financially. The operations and expenses of schools continue, even in a virtual environment. Teachers and administrators take on new and challenging tasks in a virtual environment, just as students and families do. And, we all want "school" to be there when we can return to in-person learning. So, supporting families and school operations is a complex balancing act.
