Lisa Johnson, Grinnell, IA

We are asking rural communities to share how COVID-19 is impacting them and how teachers and teacher-leaders are adapting in the face of nationwide school closures. Read below for a great story from Lisa Johnson of Grinnell, IA (Grinnell-Newburg Schools). You can share yours here: http://buff.ly/3d7hWUe

"The Grinnell Schools and Community are pulling together to ensure people are being taken care of. Technology Staff have prepared devices to go home with all students. Teachers are preparing online lessons for all ages, and those without internet access are being offered paper copies of materials to take home so students can continue to learn during this shutdown. Counselors and staff are making videos, writing post cards, sending email for students, to keep them connected to school and provide support. Nutrition worker are making meals. Transportation staff offered to deliver meals to those that cannot pick up. Maintenance staff are deep cleaning building and working on summer projects to ensure the buildings are maintained and clean when students and staff return. Administers are working hard to coordinate it all and plan for the continuation and what this means for students and staff this year and into the future. None of this has been easy, but if everyone continues to pull together our community will be better off in the end because everyone banded together to help each other out."