Re-Engaging the Path Forward for K-12 Education

from September/October Advocate 2021

by Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

April 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021

As we get ready to begin the 2021-2022 school year we are transitioning from one of the most unprecedented years in education from the past century. In the time between March 2020 and June 2021 students in Ontario spent more time learning remotely than in any other jurisdiction and everyone within the Waterloo Region community experienced an educational journey unlike any other we had collectively known.

There is a tendency to frame this period of time and student experiences from the lens of loss. And while there can be no doubt that there were challenges, reflecting on this time invites deeper consideration on the true impacts and how to identify the path forward. The impacts were not uniformly felt, nor were they uniformly negative. Any plan forward needs to consider those disproportionately affected and needs to empower the necessary stakeholder voices to properly re-engage all learners and to ensure we experience “lift from loss”.

Throughout the pandemic we at Waterloo Catholic articulated that student and staff wellbeing was our paramount priority. It remains so as we envision the path forward. As we return in September we will be emphasizing that it is not “business as usual”, that we need to take the time to re-establish relationships, to assess where students are at and to meet them there. It will be a time to practice patience and to resist trying to move students to quick fixes.

In that spirit we know that the pandemic exacerbated a shadow crisis in both mental health and in equity. We know that many of our students have suffered from anxiety during this time and we will want to bring the joy into their learning and ensure that each student has a meaningful caring adult supporting their return to learning in the new school year; listening to them as individuals and recognizing their personal experiences. Their voices need to be heard. With a foundation of wellbeing prioritized, the next goals are connected to engagement and equity.

We know that a number of students may have disengaged from learning and that in many cases, this disengagement was experienced disproportionately. Our work now is to ensure we re-engage and invite all our learners back into a rich and deep learning experience. The process has already begun over the summer with a number of summer learning programs that are intended to help bridge any learning gaps that have presented themselves during the pandemic. But there are specific initiatives planned in the fall intended to target our youngest learners and early literacy – bridging the gaps that have emerged for them. We have also hired staff to assist us with re-engagement and specifically targeting our BIPOC population. Equity will emerge even more prominently as we begin the deep work of raising awareness about our systemic biases and our unconscious biases that impact our curriculum, our staffing, our policies and processes. It will be a bold new approach to doing better and post-pandemic is the perfect time to launch these elevated expectations.

All of this happens against the backdrop of innovation. The pandemic forced all educators to see obstacles as opportunities and this is the strong momentum we wish to build upon. By truly listening to student voice, by not abandoning the gains made in virtual learning, by returning to the foundation of our global competencies of collaboration, problem-solving and creativity we can set a culture of high expectation and engagement that supports students to new and powerful possibilities. Living in the innovation hub of Canada, with the support of our parents and community partners, the future is hope-filled.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Loretta Notten

Loretta Notten is the Director of Education for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board

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