The switch from classroom to distance learning this spring was abrupt and challenging. In the latest issue of School Leader, Dr. Barry Haines, supervisor of instructional technology, media services and data management for the Pequannock Township schools, provides details on how that district handled the transition to remote learning in “Striving for Normality: A Day in the Life of a Distance Learner.” Haines, who also serves on the Mendham Borough Board of Education, interviewed students and teachers on their experiences with remote instruction and found a common thread: a yearning for the connections and human interactions that nurture lifelong learning.
The magazine also features an article on the in-depth, special report NJSBA released May 20 about the challenges facing schools in the months ahead, “Searching for a New Normal in New Jersey’s Public Schools.” The report details strategies for the consideration of local school districts and recommendations for action by state and federal governments.
In addition, this issue of School Leader has a special section on school security, including an update on the latest security-related laws in the state, recommendations on how to make school lockdowns less traumatic for students, and suggestions for school safety planning for special needs students.
School Leader magazine is published six times a year, is mailed to all board members in the state, and is available online at www.njsba.org/school-leader/.