Supporting your school and families in the 20-21 school year

[Anonymous]

My school's PTO is collecting ideas for how the PTO and families can differently support the school/staff as well as families as we return to whatever format we have for the 20-21 school year. Have you seen really strong support strategies from your PTO or organically come up among your school's families? Anything from paying for more resources to taking on some responsibilities that are easily handed off by the staff, if they're willing to do so, and anything else you can think of. I know what works in one setting/community won't always work in another, but it would be great to hear what's been successful. Or, ideas that are in the hopper that we can learn from too. thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think this is a great question, but I think it is fairly unanswerable until DCPS tells us what the proposed model is. For example, if it were all distance learning, some teachers could really use some support in getting the tech resources they need to run better lessons. I know a number of teachers at my school had internet or devices that routinely caused them trouble while they were teaching this spring. If it is a hybrid model where teachers don't get any breaks all day on the days they are teaching, finding ways to support them with basic prep (i.e. photocopying) might be immensely helpful.

[Anonymous]

I think every plan and action is on hold until we have SOME IDEA of what school is going to look like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think every plan and action is on hold until we have SOME IDEA of what school is going to look like.

Yeah, we wouldn't want to be planning anything before we have a sense of what the year will be like, but just collecting ideas to have in our back pocket until we know what's needed. Love the suggestion of taking on some tech help or even collating instructional materials/photocopying!

[Anonymous]

Teachers need tech that works, both at home (laptop, reliable internet) and at school (working desktop computers and smart boards.) Not just "do they have these items" but "do they have consistently working tech." That would be a great start.

[Anonymous]

Families supporting other families with tech challenges might free up a lot of staff time. If you have the online platform figured out and have a good grasp of solutions to simple tech issues (firewalls, content blockers, etc.) maybe you could be part of an oncall tech support group to help kids/families that have a device but still struggling to access the content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Families supporting other families with tech challenges might free up a lot of staff time. If you have the online platform figured out and have a good grasp of solutions to simple tech issues (firewalls, content blockers, etc.) maybe you could be part of an oncall tech support group to help kids/families that have a device but still struggling to access the content.

This could be awesome. Parents who are great at this stuff could offer help and services for teachers and other families.

Printer issues - Parent A
Wifi network - Parent B
Teams - Parent C


Etc.

[Anonymous]

PTA’s could help families collaborate around shared childcare pods with other families on the same hybrid learning schedule. If both kids are already in the same group in the building exposure to each other on non-school days would be limited additional risk,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PTA’s could help families collaborate around shared childcare pods with other families on the same hybrid learning schedule. If both kids are already in the same group in the building exposure to each other on non-school days would be limited additional risk,

Different PP. That's a great point, and it could be very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PTA’s could help families collaborate around shared childcare pods with other families on the same hybrid learning schedule. If both kids are already in the same group in the building exposure to each other on non-school days would be limited additional risk,

That would be great. In neighborhood schools, many families live pretty close to each other. The PTA could help organize pods of kids who are on the same schedule and live near each other. Bonus if they are in the same grade and class. Childcare, walking to and from school, etc., could be a huge logistical help.

Otherwise, I would say tech and logistical resources to help teachers and families, along with actual equipment (Chromebooks, personal wifi hotspots, etc.) to ensure that teachers and kids can easily access DL materials. I like the idea of parents with tech experience volunteering as IT support.