President's Perspective

Happy Holidays

Dr. Stephanie Nehus, AAEA Board President

As the first semester comes to a close, I reflect on what has been accomplished since August...

1. We have all survived a continued pandemic, focusing on interventions for our students who have suffered from the impact.

2. We have utilized this moment in time to rethink education. I would bet every one of us is now offering virtual learning in some way to our families with that desire.

3. We have overcome the (oftentimes political) battle between masks or no masks. We have respected one another and made decisions based on the needs of our communities, but most importantly the health and well being of our students.

4. We have supported our teachers and staff...we have encouraged and appreciated every action that went above and beyond to continue educating our students.

5. We have a new appreciation for social emotional learning. SEL has always been a focus area, but it is so much more critical now as the needs of our students have changed. Our students/our children are experiencing something that none of us have experienced in our many years of life. Coping with these challenges is a skill to be learned for sure.

6. We have learned that NOTHING in our undergraduate or graduate education could have prepared us to lead through a pandemic and beyond. Theory is wonderful, but reality is something very different.

7. We have kept our school doors opened and we have taken care of the whole child.

8. We have assessed our students, disaggregated data, and monitored and adjusted as needed to provide Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 support.

9. We have leaned on each other, lifted one another up, and grown together in our learning and leading.

10. We know it is time to move post pandemic. I pray the second semester allows us to return to a true new normal! One that involves an intentional laser focus on teaching and learning that includes collaboration and innovation. Our students deserve it!