This post is part of an ongoing series sharing the positive stories that have come out of the challenges our schools are facing. To see all of the posts in this series, click here.
In a short amount of time, COVID-19 has changed the way we live. The term social distancing is a new norm—and families around the world are forced to adapt to new routines. While the lives of many have changed significantly, one thing that has remained consistent is the drive of school leaders and teachers to continue serving their students the best way they can. Despite the problems many Americans are facing, there are many examples that show how educators are going the extra mile.
Charter School Hosts Parent Parade
The bond between students, teachers, and parents is holding strong at Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy in California! This was evident during their recent car parade with students and parents driving by with signs showing appreciation for teachers and staff. The feeling was mutual with teachers and staff members also holding signs sharing how much they missed the students and parents. A strong bond is not the only thing this school is celebrating. They were awarded the School Choice Leadership Award this year by National School Choice Week. Excellent job to this charter school for their service to students and creative ways to keep the school community uplifted.
Charter School Provides Meals and Supplies for Community
East Point Charter School in Georgia is stepping up to meet the needs of families in their community during the pandemic. School leaders emphasized the importance of taking care of students and going the extra mile to help others outside of their school community. The school offers free meals to students and others in the surrounding area twice a week, along with essentials such as toilet paper, bottled water, laundry detergent, tissue, and more. In addition, school leaders equipped students to continue learning online by providing laptops and WIFI hotspots. These efforts demonstrate the importance of reaching out to help others during tough times.
Entire Senior Class Accepted into College
Every senior at Success Academy’s High School of Liberal Arts in New York is college bound! This year each student has been accepted into a university. Some of these schools include Yale and Georgetown. Superb job by the teachers, parents, and staff who supported these students. And congrats to the students for pushing through and achieving greatness!
Charter School Nurse Returns to ICU to Help Fight COVID-19
A middle school nurse at Blackstone Valley Prep in Rhode Island is heading to the frontlines to help battle COVID-19. The nurse once worked in the intensive care unit at multiple medical centers before joining the Blackstone team. After the school’s closure, she reached out to medical providers in the area to see how she could help. She is now in the hospital treating COVID patients and still working remotely at school. The nurse’s passion to help others led her back into the medical field, however, she attributes her strength and drive to her scholars who keep her uplifted.
If you have an uplifting story to share about educators going the extra mile, please send it to me at brittnee@publiccharters.org.
Brittnee Exum is the manager of communications and marketing at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
