The Art of Staying Connected
How to Support and Uplift Students from a Distance
By Dr. Gerald Paterson, Principal in New Jersey
I recently had a deep conversation with a former college student and second-grade teacher from my previous school district. We discussed the state of education and the importance of staying connected with our students and staff. One of the takeaways from our conversation was that he said administrators need to lead with their head, which I believe we can all agree with.
However, he believes it is just important for educators to lead with their heart too.
This is essential to do when students and staff need us the most; therefore, we need to continue to stay connected and show that we care.
Why Can You Never Over-Communicate?
I truly believe that you can never over-communicate. This is key for just about any leadership position. During this time my district continues to promote connectedness among our teachers on a daily basis which has produced a rich comradery. Teachers plan together using Zoom chats to develop rich learning experiences for their students, whereby all our students are receiving similar learning situations. As a principal, I continue to check in with the rest of the administrative team from my district during their team meetings to help troubleshoot issues and most importantly be there for support.
One of the ways I communicate with staff to set the tempo for the week is sending my weekly agenda with words of encouragement. In my message it is important to stay positive with my words to cultivate connectedness. For example,
Weekly Update: 3/23–3/27
Dear C.B. Lamb Teammates,
Over the weekend I was doing a lot of reflecting on the state of the world and the panic across our country. I came across the picture above that I took in Berlin, Germany during the Summer of 2018. It is a picture of what remains of the Berlin Wall which was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. The wall symbolized the lack of freedom under communism. It symbolized the Cold War and divide between the communist Soviet bloc and the western democratic, capitalist bloc. Eventually the wall came down and freedom prevailed. When we face adversity we find a way through and we push on. This will pass and we will prevail with persistence and perseverance. Hang in there, keep your spirit up, and work together to lift your peers up!
Jerry
Monday — Friday Team Collaborations:
● Prek 3 Zoom Meeting: 8:15–9:00
● Prek 4 Zoom Meeting: 11:00–11:45
● Kindergarten Zoom Meeting: 12:00–12:45
● First Grade Zoom Meeting: 11:00–11:45
● Second Grade Zoom Meeting: 11:00–11:45
● Third Grade Zoom Meeting: 8:15–9:00
● Fourth Grade Zoom Meeting: 8:15–9:00
● FIT Zoom Meeting: 8:15–9:00
● PE/Health Zoom Meeting: 11:00–11:45
● Spanish Zoom Meeting: 8:15–9:00
● Technology Zoom Meeting: 8:15–9:00
● MD Zoom Meeting: 8:00–8:45
● Music Zoom Meeting: 12:15–1:00
Note. Please feel free to reach out to drop into another meeting if you need to collaborate with a special area teacher or just to say hi! Remember we are a team and this is a time where we want to pick each other up.
Tuesday — Breakfast/Lunch Pickup: (Food will be provided for the week.)
● 10:00 AM — 12 PM U.E.S.
Students Need Us!
It goes without saying that students need us the most during this time. Furthermore, we need to find every opportunity to stay connected. As I mentioned in my previous article, My First Week as a Virtual Learning Principal the principals in my school district send out daily video messages to our students to show that we care and lead with our hearts. We have opened up our homes and shared our families with our students and parents.
Another thing that I have tried is reaching out to students who have birthdays either through Zoom chats or by phone. Students need to know that we care and are not forgetting them even during this time of social distancing and virtual learning.
This level of connectedness is crucial during this unprecedented time in the history of teaching and learning in the United States. It is something my district has and will continue to embrace.
Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Paterson has been an educator for 24 years. He has taught elementary and middle grade, served as a curriculum supervisor, and is currently the building principal at Clarence B. Lamb Elementary School, in North Hanover Township School District. He is a college professor at Temple University and Holy Family University, both in Philadelphia, PA. He is an avid reader of American and World history, oil painter, and enjoys fishing with his teenage son. Connect with Jerry via Twitter @DrPatersonCBL.
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