Supporting School Communities During COVID-19

Student Success Agency + Educator Partners— April 2019

SSA Summer Camp 2018 — New Mexico, USA

In a time of uncertainty, it’s important to come together for our students and each other. In early April, our incredible educators and school partners came together to collaborate and share ideas and resources on how to support their students, schools, and communities during COVID-19 and this new phase of digital learning and remote working. We have compiled all of these great ideas, along with ways Student Success Agency can provide support, so we can maximize our impact together.

Thanks to all of our educators who have contributed to this extensive list of ideas and resources to support and engage school communities. We work with phenomenal educators who go above and beyond for their students inside and outside of the classroom. All the credit belongs to our educator and school partners listed at the bottom of this article. Feel free to share these resources with other educators in your network!

The individual sections below will provide lists, clickable links, and resources for how to support and engage your school communities during the COVID-19 crisis. The list is meant to provide you with several different approaches so you can best serve your community’s needs.

We are excited to share strategies around the following important and timely topics: student engagement, student well being, access and equity for our communities, supporting our school systems, celebrating graduating seniors, and recommendations for taking care of yourself while working from home.

PART 1: STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Distance learning brings a new set of challenges around student engagement. Here are some ways you can engage students through digital and remote learning:

• Send out consistent communications or emails so students know when to expect to hear from you.
• Send handwritten postcards + provide your contact information for students to be able to reach you in multiple ways.
• Send out daily or weekly check-ins through Google forms like this one and give an option for students to meet one-on-one with you if possible.
• Grab students' attention! Send out a video of yourself to get a message out, such as this video from our school partner Tabita Gutierrez from Del Valle ISD GEAR UP. She sent this fun, personal video with updates for students! Thanks for sharing, Tabita!
• Students also love the app “TikTok”, and there are plenty of dances you can learn to send to your students to connect with them! You could even incorporate your announcements into the video!
• Create weekly challenges and make it fun! Have your students send in a favorite memory from the school year or a video about washing your hands…be creative! Make it extra fun by handing out prizes (a $5 Amazon gift card goes a long way!).
• If your district allows for it, connect with your students through a video chatting platform such as Zoom or Google Hangouts. Just be sure it aligns with your district’s privacy policies and make a password required for entry so only your students can access the video chat
• If applicable, use your district’s student communication platform to send out communications to students
• Create a communication platform to connect with students if you don’t have a central email or communication system. Some great resources are Remind101, GroupMe, or even our connections with our SSA agents!
• Leverage your current partners like us to connect with your students and provide resources to them — we want to help!
• Create office hours through a communication platform so students know you’ll be consistently available during those times. Shoutout to our partners at GEAR UP Georgia for this idea!
• Host a virtual summer camp — complete with workshops, fun games, and prizes!
• Connect with local businesses or current partners that can provide giveaways for students to sign up for your camps or events
• Host virtual college tours, workshops, or events through a video chatting platform! Shoutout to our Appalachain State GEAR UP partners for this idea — they hosted a community college virtual tour week!
• Ask students to help! They’re seeking involvement and can come up with some creative ways to get other students involved.
• Consider creating a community discussion board between your students or staff. This can allow people to discuss what they need anonymously, or to share what is happening in their lives.
• If you don’t already have one, create a social media page for your school or program! Facebook and Instagram are both great platforms to communicate with students.
• Check with local colleges and universities to see what they are offering high school students. For example, Oklahoma State University is offering free concurrent online courses for Oklahoma high school seniors.

PART 2: STUDENT WELL-BEING

Student well being takes priority during this crisis. Schools provide safe spaces and resources for students to support their well being and mental and physical health. We can still provide support to students like the strategies listed below during distance learning:

• Send out a survey (try Google forms) to ask students what they need — students may be feeling overwhelmed with the school work or new living standards. Asking what they need can help inform how you will do your day to day work.
• Schedule small group video chat sessions where students can just talk or hang out — this will allow them to vent about their concerns and needs, and you’ll be surprised at the ideas they will come up with to support each other!

• Share tips for coping like GEAR UP Burke did HERE. (image to the left)
• To get spirits up and promote involvement and engagement, host a virtual Spirit Week like our partners at GEAR UP Georgia!
• Work with the school counselors to determine how to best support your students’ mental health during this time and during any times of crisis or high-need.
• Share accurate and age-appropriate information with your student about the virus using resources from the CDC.
• Understand how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs applies to life during a pandemic for you, your family, and your students. There are a few ways we can apply Maslow’s Hierarchy to our technology and teaching to strive for better outcomes and support our students.
• Provide support but also give space to students to not overwhelm them.
• Discuss growth versus fixed mindset with your students using the visual below:

PART 3: STUDENT ACCESS & EQUITY

Ensuring access and equity for students during school closures and distance learning is challenging. The following strategies can help educators provide equitable opportunities for students:

Meeting the Needs of Students

• Remember that each student’s situation is unique and one strategy may not work for all students.
• Help pass out meals to your students if your district is accepting volunteers. (Don’t forget the gloves and mask to keep you and your students safe!)
• Design or distribute packets of work or important information to students who are unable to have access to technology or wifi at home.
• Send out a survey (try Google forms) asking students what they need — students may be feeling overwhelmed with the school work or new living standards. Asking what they need can help inform how you will do your day to day work.
• Send out a survey to parents asking parents/families what they need most right now.
• The Crisis Text Line offers 24/7 counseling.
• The Trevor Project provides support to LGBTQ students.

Access to Technology

• Work with community colleges/universities to gather materials and devices they have available for rent or distribution to students in the local community.
• Help distribute technology from your district to students who may not have access to technology at home.
• Research wireless companies in your area that are providing free wifi or hotspot services to students.
• Work with your district to provide wifi to students through hotspots like this district has done by placing buses around the community with wireless hotspots so students can connect
• Check out these recommendations for How to Reach Students Without Internet from Teach For All
• Create a list of places in your local communities that have free wifi for your students — don’t forget about public libraries!

Meeting Special Education & Other Learning Needs

• Reach out to local colleges, universities, and libraries to see what devices they have available for students with special needs to rent or take home.
• This “Handy Chart” features over 30 iPad apps for students with special needs.
• Check out these Considerations for Special Education Administrators for additional resources and guidance.
• The TalkingPoints app allows teachers to communicate with parents in the parents’ native language. The app works on text-based phones, too. They are currently offering free access to educational resources.
• Watch this webinar on Best Practices for Serving English Language Learners and Their Families.

PART 4: SUPPORTING SCHOOLS

We have found that schools are very focused on student well-being and delivering curriculum. Check out the following strategies for helping schools accomplish this, and providing additional support to schools for your students:

• Remind your schools and other teachers that you are there to help and connect with students. Ask how you can help.
• Connect with your other community partners to see how they’re supporting your students and how you can collaborate.
• Team up with your schools to channel out information — students and parents are receiving a lot of communications right now so find out how you can collaborate with your school to provide the best information to them in the most efficient way for everyone.
• If you have the time, co-teach with a teacher at your school, or create a video lesson for them to share! It may save them time from creating a lesson. You can offer lessons such as career exploration, or college applications.
• Check out Google’s Teach From Home hub with information and tools to help teachers during the COVID-19 Crisis. They provide resources on connecting via video chat, teaching without video chat, keeping students engaged, making lessons accessible to all, and staying connected with other educators.
• Explore websites of companies like IBM that are providing free resources for students and teachers during the pandemic. They have connections with Cisco for remote teaching support, EdX for helping students manage online learning, and more.
• Several companies and communities are offering free professional development for educators. You can also offer your expertise to other educators in your community and host a professional development to help empower others!
• If you’re able to, reach out to your peers and other educators to see how you can support them. The graphic below is a good reminder that everyone is experiencing this global pandemic in their own way.

PART 5: CELEBRATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Seniors are missing out on big milestones. This is a trying time for everyone and this only adds an extra layer to our graduating seniors. Here are some strategies to celebrate and support them during this time:

• Highlight seniors on your social media page like our East Central Oklahoma Upward Bound partners have. Ask students for a picture to share and what their plans are after they graduate!
• Create a plan for graduation — Zoom graduation, postponed ceremony, or “drive-in movie” graduation ceremony are just some of the ideas we’ve heard being tossed around. Go above and beyond — the students deserve it!
• Host a virtual prom/dance like this community —complete with a DJ, prizes, a virtual promposal contest, and a makeup artist to help students get ready! Work with local clothing stores to see if they can rent clothes out to students for the big day! Also, check out the virtual prom actor John Krasinski hosted for students!
• This is an important time for seniors in their college acceptance and financial aid journeys. Host virtual meetings or workshops to help them through this process.
• Create an “Adopt-a-Senior” program!
• Ask local businesses to donate to a scholarship fund, or host a virtual 5k run where proceeds would go to a scholarship for a student of yours. A lot of people are looking to help (or get out of the house on a run) and you could raffle off the scholarship to a very deserving student!
• Host virtual Celebrations and college signing days!
• Create yard signs for seniors like the one pictured below!

PART 6: MAKE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU

You matter. It’s in the nature of educators to always go above and beyond for others, but remember it’s important to take care of yourself, too. Practicing self-care and connecting with others can help us through this tough time.

Self-Care

• Remember to give yourself grace. We are teaching, parenting, and living at home during a global pandemic. This is not “normal” and we don’t need to continue as if it is.
• Remember that we are all learning together — we aren’t going to figure out the perfect way to do it right away. If you find something that works for you and your students then continue that! If something doesn’t work, don’t stress too much over it!
• Also, remember a lot of this is out of our control and this can bring on new feelings that we may not be used to dealing with. Finding tips for coping can be helpful for you and your family.
• Set a schedule, but don’t be afraid to veer from it. Setting a daily schedule for yourself and your families (whether you’re working from home, homeschooling your kids, or just trying to adapt to the temporary way of living) can be beneficial for your task flow and mental health. However, remember that it’s okay to stray from this schedule when things come up, or if you just need a break. There is always tomorrow to get things done. Take care of yourself first.
• It’s okay to feel. With the uncertainty comes an array of emotions and it’s okay to feel those emotions. Reach out to family and friends for support.

Connect

• Join online communities such as Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook to find daily resources like you can find on this Global Educator Collective Facebook page.
• Connect with other educators in your network who are in the same position as you. Share ideas and resources. Talk about what’s working. Talk about what’s not working. Listen. Vent. Remind each other that you’re doing the best you can.
• Connect with Student Success Agency - see the next section for how we can support you.

Finally, keep the graphic below in mind! If you’re reading this article — you’re ALREADY doing more and going above and beyond! Celebrate all that you’ve done for you, your family, and your students!

SSA Strategies to Support You and Your Students

At Student Success Agency, we are committed to working around the clock to support you and your students! Here are just a few of the ways we can support you and your school communities:

• Provide access to on-demand student support services through our Agents. Check out our flyer with our text-in number to engage more students!
• Provide access to on-demand tutoring through our highly-qualified Tutoring Specialists. To access on-demand tutoring, your students can text our Tutoring Specialist number that can be found on the flyer HERE.
• Send out important school/program announcements or virtual events you are hosting to students in your cohort through our agents! Email Blair with your announcements/events and they will be shared the same day!
• Contact an individual student on your roster for individual support.
• Connect you with other educators from around the country in the same role as you — it can be beneficial to talk to someone who has the same responsibilities and collaborate with them!
• Check out our write up of 10 Ways to Embrace Mobile Teaching for more ideas!
• You know your students and school communities best. Have an idea for a collaboration with SSA? Connect with us and we’re happy to help in every way we can to support you and your students!
• Virtual Study Hall — SSA’s CEO EJ Carrion is hosting a virtual study hall where students and agents can hold each other accountable while working from home!
• Enroll more students at our Virtual Kickoff the week of May 4–8! (See more information below)
• Share SSA’s Response to COVID 19 — Support For All — with students, parents, schools, and districts who could benefit from virtual support! (See more information below)
• Engaging Students in Transitional Times Webinar:

On Thursday, April 23rd, Student Success Agency’s Lisa Brady Gill hosted a webinar with Dr. Aaron Thompson, John Harrington, and Casey Partridge. The three experts discussed educating rural students, connecting families to the internet, and preparing seniors to be mentally ready for their freshman year of college. Here is the on-demand webinar.

Current Partner Virtual Kickoff Assembly

In the midst of schools transitioning to digital learning, we wanted to provide our school partners with a virtual opportunity to enroll more students with agents and into Student Success Agency services.

Here’s how the Virtual SSA Kickoff works:

• A pre-recorded virtual kickoff speech by CEO EJ Carrion encouraging students to text-in to sign up- available on the VIRTUAL KICKOFF WEBSITE on May 4
• A live virtual hangout with EJ and our awesome agents on May 6, 2020 where students can sign up, learn more about SSA, and enter to win a $300 scholarship or one of 4 — $50 gift cards
• Any student on a school contract with SSA is eligible to sign up at this time
• Email blair@studentsuccess.co for more information and resources to engage students in the virtual kickoff!

SSA’s Response to COVID 19- Support For All

At a time where school districts across the country have to shut down to keep students safe, we at Student Success Agency feel called to serve.

Student Success Agency is offering support services for free to any U.S. middle or high school student until the end of the school year through our “Support For All” messaging tool!

Our website contains more information and a support page for anyone to access virtual educational resources. Feel free to share this information with any students, parents, teachers, or administrators — we are all in this together!

Click here for current partner updates from EJ about these services.

Huge shoutout and thanks to all of our educators and school partners who collaborated with us to create this list of resources! Thanks for being all in this together for our students! We couldn’t do our work without you!

• GEAR UP Virginia
• GEAR UP Birmingham
• Kamehameha Schools, Hawai’i
• Appalachian State University GEAR UP
• East Central Oklahoma University Upward Bound
• Nevada GEAR UP
• GEAR UP Georgia
• W. T. White B-TECH — Dallas ISD
• East Central Oklahoma University Upward Bound Math & Science
• Southern Regional Technical College- Cairo High School TalentSearch CollegeMAKERS
• Pensacola State College TRIO
• Utah State University GEAR UP
• Vancouver Public Schools GEAR UP
• IPSI — UT Austin GEAR UP
• GEAR UP Jefferson County
• Seminole State College GEAR UP
• Thomas University Pre-College Programs — Cairo High School

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