AWSP Blog

In our massive shift to remote learning, and in the spirit of being a continuous learner, I’ve been trying to learn more about online learning. What are effective ways to teach students online? How do we structure communication (including instruction and feedback) to students via computers or phones? And what are some strategies that AWSP can share with principals as they shift to becoming digital principals who are responsible for managing their culture, systems, and learning in their (now) remote buildings.

In this edition of AWSP News, we discuss a shoutout to the OSPI team, the incredible school leadership stories of connecting with students, staffulty, and your school community, making it a daily habit to check our website for updates, announcements, and resources, virtual graduation celebrations, the Washington Student Achievement Council and their fantastic resources, self-care and work-life balance with a new activity from our wellness partner, Kaiser Permanente, and the 2020 Census.

AWSL is constantly updating lists of resources and ideas for schools who are searching. Check out AWSLeaders.org/2020Resources for daily updates on senior activities and graduation ideas.

Here is another great activity called a Self-Care Wheel. Use it individually or with your whole staff. It’s brought to us by our fantastic wellness partners from Kaiser Permanente.

These are not normal times. This is not our new normal. We hear that expression used frequently these days about these days. However, rather than thinking of the current situation as ‘normal’, I prefer to see it as a challenge to the comfortable normal of not too long ago. Within that context, we need to remember that we did not plan for this. We should have, but we didn’t. However, we have been flexible and agile. We have been creative and adaptable. We cannot forget that this did really happen. (Just give it 6 months or so after schools reopen!) Because of COVID-19, we have experienced and learned much. So, as we approach the end of the current academic year, and as we look forward to what a new normal will hold, let’s begin reflecting on this experience and planning for the future.