Rising to the Challenge at Envision Academy
This is a guest post from Envision Academy in Oakland.
In times of crisis such as the COVID-19 outbreak, inequities can be exacerbated. With that in mind, the number one priority for educators at Oakland’s Envision Academy has been and continues to be to ensure that Oakland students are not denied their right to an education; this focus is aligned to Envision’s anti-racist stance.
It is no secret that challenges like COVID19 create the space for innovation as well, and that space is alive and flourishing at Envision Academy in Oakland. Through their Distance Learning initiative, EA has been able to provide every single student with quality learning experiences through online systems. In just a matter of days, the school shifted completely to virtual, online campuses and provided every student with an Envision Chromebook laptop. They are working hard to ensure that students can engage with their teachers, connect with each other, and continue to learn and grow.
In EA’s high school, teachers and school leaders came together quickly to create websites for each grade level with all the resources students need to continue their learning. From online office hours with teachers, to virtual classes being held via Zoom, to regular communications from the school to families, EA is rising to this challenge and bringing their strong and loving community to students and families where they are: at home.
In EA’s middle school, teachers are providing online learning as well as making sure to keep those all-important teacher-student relationships strong: Ms. Quan, EAMG’s Math and STEM teacher, is holding Google Hangouts for students, separate from online classes, so students can connect socially and still receive the positive support typically provided in the EAMG Advisory program. It has been so good for both teachers and students to see each others’ faces and talk about all kinds of things that are on students’ minds.
To learn more about Envision Academy and to enroll, visit envisionacademy.org or call Enrollment Coordinator Kei’sha Pearson at (510) 761–8210.
