Preserving the continuity of student learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been an exceptionally difficult task for many school districts throughout the country. In the countrys rural school systems, school administrators and instructors face an unique set of challenges. I believe that the method my school system is overcoming these obstacles offers rural school districts a new plan for teaching and knowing in the evolving COVID world.

To win this battle, the Elko School District has taken actions to help reduce the challenge of teaching in the COVID age and set a brand-new direction for mentor and finding out that I believe will long outlive the COVID-19 pandemic..

Sarah Aynsley Jolley DeSart, BS, M. Ed., Technology Coordinator & & Digital Coach, Elko County School DistrictSarah Aynsley Jolley DeSart, BS, M. Ed., is the Technology Coordinator & & Digital Coach for the Elko County School District.

While our school system was affected by the very first wave of COVID infections like many others, the 2nd wave of COVID in the Fall of 2021 struck the neighborhood incredibly hard. A huge rise of cases throughout the county created new obstacles as trainees had actually to be quarantined at house for extended periods due to COVID direct exposure. The uncertainty of whether a trainee would be in-person or remote from one day to the next stays a continuous fight.

One of the most significant concerns in rural neighborhoods is web connectivity and facilities reliability throughout school hours. The students who didnt have access to the web were issued a hotspot. Keeping both teacher and student Chromebooks and hotspots up and running was an uphill struggle, and credit needs to be provided to the Elko County School District Technology Department. They have actually worked tirelessly to fix broken Chromebooks and solve gadget issues.

Preserving the connection of student learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has actually been an incredibly tough feat for most school districts across the nation. In the nations rural school systems, school administrators and teachers deal with a distinct set of obstacles. I think that the way my school system is overcoming these difficulties supplies rural school districts a new plan for mentor and knowing in the evolving COVID world.

Latest posts by eSchool Media Contributors.
( see all).

Step 1: Ensure ongoing access to devices and reliable web.

My school system is located in Elko, Nevada, and like everybody else, we were affected by COVID during 2020-2021. The Elko County School District covers 17,203 square miles of mountainous surface and has significant industries of ranching and gold mining. When our schools closed at the onset of the pandemic, offering all trainees with reputable access to the web was our very first concern. Next, we guaranteed all students had access to a suitable device, which in our districts case, was a Chromebook.