Page 25 - KMAland Healthcare Heroes

KMAland 2021 A Salute to KMAland Healthcare Heroes 25

Gute says instructors at Fre-
mont-Mills and Stanton con-
tinue to face a big challenge in
attending to students in person
and virtually at the same time.
“We have some supports in
place for students that are out-
side of school, or chose not
to come back in, but are still
part of our system,” said Gute.
“But then, you turn around
and you ask a teacher to make
sure you’re trying to keep that
kid up to speed on differ-
Nelson says funding for the ent things. So, that’s sometimes
went two weeks without having position will largely come from probably not fair to have that,
school.” leftover money in the district’s but everyone’s rolled with it as
Shortly after the F-M shut- at-risk/dropout prevention well as they can, and given the
down, guidelines were changed funds. circumstances.”
in the state stating that students “The CARES Act funds we’ve Likewise, Nelson says instruc-
wearing masks would not have to largely used for technology, tors in Shenandoah have adjust-
quarantine if they were around PPE, health and safety, cleaning ed by using modern technology
another positive case. and different products like that,” in keeping education going.
Perhaps the biggest heroes in said Nelson. “We believe we’ll be “They’ve learned to use new
the school during the pandemic able to support this using some tools such as Google Class-
have been teachers. After ex- of the reserves that we have in room and ZOOM,” said Nelson.
perimenting with virtual learn- at-risk. Because we weren’t in “Some of them have done some
ing platforms during the spring school this spring, our typi- live feeds, while others have pro-
shutdown, nearly every district cal summer programs were not vided more video instruction for
in the state has implemented at available, so we’re able to apply their students.
least some form of remote learn- some of that funding to support They’ve all tried it in different
ing. In Shenandoah, the school these needs.” ways. I think the thing they’ve
board approved creating a new had to do the most is spend more
position on staff to help
families and staff bridge the
technology-eduction divide.
“It’s a teaching position that
will help families who have opt-
ed to participate in our remote
learning program,” said Nelson.
“This person would be working
with the families and coordi-
nating educational services in
the school and working with
students in small groups. They
would be ensuring that the
students who are participating
remotely have a high-quality
education.