President’sPrespective

As administrators we must fully believe that education can continue successfully even when put to the test of pandemic times. We must be resolute in our commitment to the continual effective education of each of our individual students. I want to encourage each of us to focus on individual student learning. Now more than ever before it is necessary to stay centered on student needs and not managing the logistics of Covid 19. DESE has provided leadership and guidance during these difficult times. They have identified key factors necessary for Arkansas to be Ready for Learning:

We will ensure the continuity of teaching and learning by providing a guaranteed and viable curriculum that includes blended learning (K-12) and diagnostic assessments (K-8).

We will address unfinished learning from the prior year by using the Arkansas Playbook: Addressing Unfinished We will utilize a Learning Management System.

We will offer ongoing teacher training for how to use the selected Learning Management Systems.

We will schedule teacher training for blended learning (delivery of instruction).

We will provide support for parents and students.

We will provide a written communication plan for interacting with parents, students, and the community.

The Ready for Learning Plan provides guidance for schools during this unprecedented time as we navigate through the year. Our school plans will require much flexibility, yet you will notice that waivers for specialized individual student’s needs are not allowed. The guidelines offer flexibility for schools to continually revise plans and adjust day-to-day operations to ensure that all student needs are being met. As we are constantly monitoring and adjusting plans within our districts, I encourage us to take advantage of this opportunity for collaborative and creative planning to provide the most individual services that we can.

As circumstances arise that make us revise plans, it is critical to include our special populations in those plans. DESE has provided some useful resources to help us as we try to weave the needs of gifted, special education, dyslexia, English learners, and various other services. A few links are provided at the bottom of this article for your convenience. Our goal should be to bring collaborative teams to the table, via zoom or sitting “six feet apart,” to think differently about providing the best services possible to all of our students. While our methods have to be different, our goal remains the same.

Every child needs a champion for both their academic, social and emotional needs. My prayer and goal for the year is to not allow pandemic management to cloud my vision, but to be a champion for each of my students and to encourage every teacher under my leadership to do the same. I challenge you to keep your focus on the children, both academically and emotionally.

HELPING STUDENTS COPE

Learning Services Curriculum Resources - Reentry Playbook Resources.docx

Guidance for Gifted Education Programs

Special Education Reentry Guidance

Dyslexia Guidance

English Learner Ready for Learning Considerations