From the VASCD Executive Director
Laurie McCullough, Executive Director Virginia ASCD This year, our journal contains a President’s Message from Alan Seibert. Alan retired this year from a career in Salem City Schools that began when he did his student teaching there during his undergraduate program at Virginia Tech. Thirty years later, Alan has served the Salem community as a teacher, administrator at both the high school and elementary levels, and as Superintendent for the past 15 years. His leadership is a gift not only to Salem, but to VASCD as well. Alan’s message in this issue suggests using what we’ve learned during the difficult days of the pandemic to improve teaching and learning for our children. I would suggest that there are also COVID-inspired lessons for us as adult learners, and that we can grow from this experience - not just as educators but in all aspects of our lives. As I interact with friends and colleagues in multiple life situations and across age groups, I hear things like these: COVID has helped me see how beneficial it is for me to slow down and appreciate relaxing with my family. My new Zoom skills enabled me to check in with friends I otherwise couldn’t have seen, and now we’re staying in touch more than before before the pandemic. I thought the isolation would be hard (and at times it was) but I’ve learned that time by myself can also be rejuvenating. 8
vascd.org
VASCD Journal
Vol. 18 2021
