Whereas not a brand new idea, the significance of constructing a way of group inside college districts has by no means been extra obvious, particularly within the wake of the pandemic. In a latest survey by the Schooling Advisory Board, 80% of superintendents reported that pupil conduct has worsened during the last 4 years, and 74% reported that mother or father communication has turn into extra disrespectful.
Dr. Joe Phillips, Broward County Public Faculties’ (FL) Chief Info Officer, and Sam Chaudhary, CEO of ClassDojo, acquired into the weeds in particular person final month on this matter at a CoSN session and had been gracious sufficient to comply with up with me through Zoom. On this dialog, they discover how leaders can leverage know-how to foster close-knit, supportive relationships amongst academics, kids, and households.
Joe emphasizes a must shift again to community-based schooling, the place faculties usually are not seen as separate entities however integral elements of bigger communities. He stresses the significance of mother or father engagement and collaboration in bridging the hole between dwelling and college life, finally fostering a supportive pupil setting. Sam speaks to the evolution of Class Dojo from a grassroots initiative to a district-wide community-building instrument. He particulars the platform’s give attention to intimacy, belief, and real-time communication amongst academics, dad and mom, and college students, contrasting it with broader social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter (I refuse to make use of the letter) that always exacerbate divisions.
Each envision a future the place know-how enhances moderately than replaces human interplay in schooling. They foresee a hybrid mannequin the place know-how facilitates communication and collaboration whereas preserving the invaluable advantages of face-to-face engagement. Regardless of the challenges, they continue to be optimistic in regards to the potential for unified efforts rooted in a shared dedication to kids’s schooling. I discovered this to be a strong dialog and I hope you discover it insightful.
