Brookline Schools Call For Experts To Help Plan Remote Learning

Press release from the School Committee of the Public Schools of Brookline:

May 21, 2020

The School Committee of the Public Schools of Brookline (PSB) is issuing a call for experts to support the development of preK-12 Remote Learning plans for the 2020-2021 school year in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Volunteer Experts will serve on Advisory Panels in at least four areas: educational excellence with equity; whole-child supports and development; educator capacity-building and supports; and public health and operations.

We are collectively facing an historic moment in the history of public education. Nobody has ever transformed a public school district of roughly 8,000 students to a remote environment, virtually overnight, with excellence and equity, and during a once-in-a-century pandemic. So to that end, with deep humility, the goal of the Expert Advisory Panels is to identify and share best practices and emerging innovations with PSB leaders, staff, and the community; to clarify, apply, and expand upon state and federal guidelines as they are issued; to work with the PSB school community and leadership to share guidance and insights; and generally to ensure that the PSB’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is drawing on the best resources that our community has to offer. Each Panel will have a School Committee liaison and will be tied into ongoing planning processes across the district. Expert contributions will be guided by the following core principles and priorities:

1. The health and well-being of our student, family/caregiver, resident, and staff communities
2. Brookline’s long-standing commitment to an outstanding, equitable education for every student, with an
emphasis on excellence, inclusion, creativity, and differentiated instruction
3. Strong, collaborative teaching and leadership
4. Strong partnerships between students, families, educators, staff, and the Town of Brookline

Group 1: Educational excellence with equity

Areas of professional expertise may include: special education; English learners; students from low-income backgrounds; students requiring additional supports; enrichment and challenge; general education

Group 2: Whole child supports and development

Areas of professional expertise may include: mental wellness and social-emotional development (focus on ages 3-19); physical wellness; extra-curricular activities; other whole-child experience supports

Group 3: Educator capacity-building

Areas of professional expertise may include: skill development for remote/distance teaching and learning; professional training and development; public K-12 district leadership experience

Group 4: Public health, safety, district operations, and logistics

Areas of professional expertise may include: public health (especially vis. epidemics and infectious disease); occupational safety; K-12 building operations; Schools/Town partnerships; transportation; communications

We are working on an accelerated timeline in order to plan and prepare for the 2020-2021 academic year. If you have expertise in one of these relevant areas, please send an email to the Brookline School Committee c/o Robin Coyne (robin_coyne@psbma.org) by Tuesday, May 26 at 5.00pm. Please indicate your areas of relevant professional expertise and your desired areas of contribution. The expected time commitment will be 4-5 hours per month of meeting time, supplemented by additional research or activities, through the end of December 2020. Meetings will comply with the open meeting law.

Please note: this is a call for volunteers with relevant professional expertise. This process will also include ample opportunities for family, resident, and staff voice, which will be announced in early June.

This press release was produced by the School Committee of the Public Schools of Brookline. The views expressed here are the author's own.