Covid-19 Based Decision Making
By Noah Austin
Embedded Files
Learning Targets
Learning Targets
1. At the end of this lesson, readers will be able to describe the importance of the safety of children that was taken into account when making these Covid-19 decisions in schools.
2. At the end of this lesson, readers will be able to describe the process of the decisions made to change schools from in person to online learning to counteract the spread of Covid-19.
Covid-19 Decision Making in Stafford County
Covid-19 Decision Making in Stafford County
Interviewee
Dr Scott Kizner is the superintendent for Stafford County Public Schools, with. He has forty-one years of experience in teaching and school administration. Dr. Kizner also has two daughters who are now teachers themselves, and another one who decided to be a lawyer. Him and his family have very close ties to the school system which, and in my opinion, it makes him a great candidate to handle a process like this.
Introduction
Covid-19 has created multiple issues that need to be solved in order for everyday life to continue efficiently. In the education system, Covid-19 concerns have forced administration to create guidelines so that the safety of students, teachers, and their families are maintained.
(Dr. Scott Kizner Superintendent of SCPS)
Takeaways
The Process
Governor of Virginia gave guidelines presented by the CDC to school districts across the state.
In Stafford County, Dr. Kizner collaborated with the school board and other superintendents of other districts to find best way to handle Covid-19.
He decided to close schools and began online learning through Zoom and online lectures and assignments.
This is not unlike that of overseas schools run by DoDEA (Vergun, 2020).
Tried to find ways to bring kids back to school based on statistics and scientific data on the Covid-19
The Attitudes of the People
As Dr. Kizner explained, the attitudes toward these changes were 50/50 in support and against the decisions.
People complained about their children's' education as they were not allowed to be at school but instead isolated at home.
Dr. Kizner explained that the isolation associated with online learning was detrimental but necessary due to the circumstances
Political leaders also were upset and expressed concerns about students feeling isolated while being in school online (Jamieson, 2020).
Alternative Outcomes
People would be in the dark on what to do and how to handle the safety of their kids with this virus as Dr. Kizner explained.
As Dr. Kizner stated, "People would be guessing"
The CDC expressed many reasons as to why people should follow their guidelines so that they would not be confused like this (Vergun, 2020).
Conclusion
To conclude the discussion of Covid-19 decision making in schools, we turn to the information presented as a basis for how most schools around the country reacted to the virus. My interviewee, Dr. Scott Kizner, had a wonderful insight into the inner workings of the school administration system and how they respond to situations such as this. This lesson is important to future teachers and administrators because the virus might not end anytime soon, or there may be another virus one day.
References
References
Jamieson, D. J. (2020, September 3). Public Health Decision Making during Covid-19 — Fulfilling the CDC Pledge to the American People. The New England Journal of Medicine, 383(10), 4. Old Dominion University Libraries. 10.1056/NEJMp2026045
Vergun, D. (2020, August 13). Defense Officials Brief on Opening DODEA Schools During COVID-19. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved February 2, 2021, from https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2311534/defense-officials-brief-on-opening-dodea-schools-during-covid-19/
Quiz
Quiz
1. What was the first thing that happened after Covid-19 began that led to the closing of schools?
a. Superintendents collaborated
b. Governor issued CDC guidelines
c. Dr. Kizner tried to get kids back to school
d. None of the above
2. What could school administrators do in the future to lessen the negative effects of switching to online schooling?
a. Leave students to asynchronous learning instead of zoom classes.
b. Have students in schools despite the pandemic.
c. Create a more interactive learning tool that would allow students to collaborate and socialize more affectively while learning.
d. All of the above.
Answers
Answers
1. b. Governor issued CDC guidelines
2. c. Create a more interactive learning tool that would allow students to collaborate and socialize more affectively while learning.
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