Steven Blackburn

Why schools need to flush water systems before reopening

When reopening, schools that fail to flush their water systems could risk the growth and transmission of a bacteria that can lead to students exhibiting COVID-19-like symptoms or that can escalate the likelihood of older staff and faculty contracting deadly infections.

Creativity in Crisis: Dressing up as various characters to engage students

A private school teacher has been dressing up in costumes for the beginning of each class since the week of March 16.

What school leaders need to know about new Title IX regulations

The final Title IX regulations recently released by the U.S. Education Department put more of a burden on administrators to identify their investigative processes, to provide an impartial report, and to ensure all employees who witness sexual harassment or assault file incident reports.

3 best practices for taking students on virtual field trips

While virtual reality takes students (and teachers) to many places around the world they would otherwise never go, implementing virtual reality field trips for teaching takes time. Here are some best practices for taking students on virtual reality field trips.

Where to find the right network support to maintain VR experiences

Schools should check in with IT tech support, instructional tech coaches and tech-savvy librarians.

How to get teachers comfortable with VR technology

Encourage teachers to connect with instructional technology teams, participate in seminars and create PLCs.

Can virtual reality experiences be accomplished remotely?

Solution providers offer insights for schools to provide VR experiences during closures.

Why schools serving high Latino populations are affected more during closures

As COVID-19 affects the mental health of Latino students at significantly higher rates than whites, Cutler-Orosi JUSD in California struggles to provide support for a student population that is 97% hispanic.

Improving student engagement with Minecraft: Education Edition

Districts of Distinction honoree Cherokee County School District is bringing game-based learning into the classroom (and online during school closures) by providing extensive training and PD.

4 districts that incorporate innovative ed tech in PD and in the classroom

Here are four K-12 districts being honored as Districts of Distinction runners-up for incorporating education technology in professional learning and in the classroom.

How Washoe County is using data to provide student supports during closures

A previous Districts of Distinction honoree obtains contact information remotely from an in-house data warehouse to help students during the coronavirus pandemic.

How and when should schools reopen? COVID-19 task force discusses

This week, 25 education leaders part of a newly formed COVID-19 task force came to the conclusion that schools should not reopen until the summer or fall and that the necessary school policies that superintendents would need to implement to keep students safe would cost more than what districts can currently afford.

Hotspot discount programs are ending. What other options are there?

Many hotspot discount programs that districts provided to low-income families are reaching their limit, and school leaders are concerned what monthly rates these families will have to pay so students can still learn remotely during school closures.

How this district provides psychological support during COVID-19

In California, Newport-Mesa USD uses a video-conferencing platform to continue a multitiered school psychological support initiative that District Administration's Districts of Distinction program honored in 2016.

Why districts need to provide mental health services during COVID-19, report reveals

Social isolation as a result of the novel coronavirus is having a negative effect on the mental health of young adults aged 16 to 18, the latest edition of a recurring monthly survey finds.