Ep. 95: IWL Crossing--On Returning To School in Tacoma

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Tacoma Public Schools plans to return all grades to some in-person classroom teaching next month. Frankly, the “plans” sound more like “wishes,” “hopes,” “fingers crossed,” “it sure would be nice…” So, what do teachers think about that, and what should parents be asking?

Megan, Hope, and Auntie Evelyn join up again to discuss the latest news on the return to school for Tacoma Public Schools. There are only three months left in the school year–do we use them for something entirely new (which could be a super-spreader event daily), or use the time to get everything organized so that schools really can be on track to return in the fall? It’s not an easy question to answer, and well-intentioned people will have wildly different opinions based on risks, family situations, and experience.

Relevant Readings:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Call/email the City Council

  • Call/Email the school board

  • Call/email the Superintendent Carla Santorno—csantor@tacoma.k12.wa.us

    • Deputy Superintendent Josh Garcia—jgarcia2@tacoma.k12.wa.us

  • Post on Social media and tag the school district and Superintendent.

  • Get your friends to do the above

Ep. 93: IWL Crossing: Tacoma School Schedules and Teacher Respect; WTF TPS?!

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Over the last week Tacoma social media has been abuzz with concerns about a “new” classroom schedule for Tacoma Public Schools that is to go into effect on February 8. The schedule shows “in person” teaching in the afternoons and remote learning in the morning.

Why? Our COVID 19 numbers are far worse now than they were last March, and there are new variants that are even more contagious. Yes, everyone, especially teachers, students and parents, wants to get back to normal. But we need to do that safely. Can we safely return students to the classroom now?

Well, it turns out that the schedule showing “in person” class periods really means “eventually, when we return to in person teaching, it will be on this schedule, so let’s try this schedule out now even if it is disruptive and results in less actual class time with students.” In response, many teachers and parents are saying “WTF TPS?!!!”

In this joint episode of Crossing Division, Tacoma’s Talk Show, and Interchangeable White Ladies (IWL), Tacoma’s premier teaching and equity podcast, IWLs Hope Teague-Bowling and Megan Holyoke join Evelyn Lopez to talk about what’s going on in Tacoma School World. Why a schedule change now? Has the teachers’ union sold out its members? And what we can do about it? Listen and let us know what you think, and what should happen next!

To understand this better, check out the following links:

Ep. 67: What A Pandemic Reveals About Education Equity--Teaching & Learning During the Covid-19 Outbreak

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Note to listeners: This episode was recorded on Saturday March 14. Some information may have changed by the date this was published. Unfortunately, due to timezone issues, Annie was unable to join the discussion.

EQ: What has this pandemic revealed about issues of equity and access in education?

Guests: Aaron Shelby, Secondary Curriculum Coordinator, and Amy Daraiseh, Learning Support at the American School of Abu Dhabi.

Weeks ago, educators in East Asia transitioned to virtual teaching, offering synchronous (live) and asynchronous learning opportunities for students kindergarten through university level. Many international teachers kept tabs on this progression, perusing social media for what was inevitably coming to all of us. Concerns about teaching students with special needs, supporting English language learners, and managing poor internet connection across the globe were hot topics on many message boards. For better or for worse, it seemed the US was living blissfully in denial of the impending virus that would sweep the nation and ask educators to re-examine what it means to teach and to learn in the midst of a pandemic. 

To get some perspective on the logistics of remote learning, listen to the conversation  “Teaching Online During the Covid-19 Outbreak” Nate Bowling had with two teachers, Jordan Moog and Michele Curley, from the American School of Abu Dhabi.

In this episode, two of Hope’s favorite colleagues join her for a discussion on the range of equity issues rising to the surface in educating in the “new frontier” of the coronavirus. We discuss special education accommodations, tech access, wrap-around services (food, childcare, medical care), and how to provide social-emotional support to students in a time of crisis. Our conversation has a global framing but Hope weaves in Washington specific data and concerns in order to keep listeners grounded in something more familiar. 

Learn about what’s happening in WA state:

Around the World:

Champagne & Real Pain:

  • 🥂 to Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Community and all the educators making themselves vulnerable to share ideas. 

  • 🥂 Naomi Campbell for telling us to wipe down our seats

  • 🥂 American Community School administration and colleagues

  • 👎🏻 to the ashholes who are hoarding TP and being butts to others during a time of crisis

  • 👎🏻 those who are still traveling which puts others in danger

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: keep sharing your resources, bringing hopeful in the midst of chaos

  • Amy: channel positive energy and spread it to those around you

  • Aaron: be good to yourself and check in on your neighbor

Follow our guests on the socials: Aaron Shelby (Twitter) Amy Daraiseh (Twitter)