Educators and School Employees | Invest EAP/Centers

Education in the time of COVID
Resources and support for navigating this fall and beyond

Given the unexpected new demands you are facing as a school employee, it’s normal to feel a range of emotions. In addition to your own experience with the pandemic, our educators are taking on additional stress as you support Vermont's students and their families.

Back-to-school responses to COVID-19 must include the psychological and social-emotional impact of the pandemic on all leaders, teachers, and education support staff. There are actions we can take to help us not only get through this current crisis, but to emerge from the crisis wiser, stronger, and more connected to our students and colleagues.

We can’t control what is happening to us and around us,
but we can control how we respond to it.
The good news is that resiliency can be learned.
We can each develop or strengthen thoughts, behaviors, and actions that allow us to recover from traumatic or stressful events in life.

We want to support you - let’s talk.
Our hotline is open 24/7/365 at 1-800-287-2173 .

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TEACHERS AND EDUCATION SUPPORT STAFF

Guidance and education practices to build connection and wellbeing

Greater Good in Education's resource center titled "Supporting Learning and Well-Being During the Coronavirus Crisis" is a goldmine of activities, articles, and videos for teachers.
Back to School 2020: Building Community for Connection and Learning: online library that focuses on building relationships and supporting students’ social–emotional needs first.
(by Facing History and Ourselves)
Ten Strategies for Educators’ Well-Being: A handbook for schools during the COVID-19 outbreak (by Sea Change Mentoring)

Coronavirus Sanity Guide - meditations, podcasts, blog posts, and talks, with a free app for teachers (by Ten Percent Happier)
Stress Management for Educators
Practices to Support Student Mental Health and Well-Being:
Addressing Stress and Anxiety in Elementary Students
Addressing Stress and Anxiety in Middle/HS Students
Setting Boundaries: Maintaining Work-Life Balance as a Teacher During the Pandemic

PRINCIPALS AND SUPERINTENDENTS

Key dimensions in back-to-school plans as leaders navigate these unprecedented times

Supporting teachers in back-to-school efforts – A toolkit for school leaders
This comprehensive toolkit was designed for school leaders to support and protect teachers and education support staff in the return to school following COVID-19 related closures.

While aimed primarily at school leaders, the Toolkit is also potentially useful for teachers and education support staff to better understand their roles and responsibilities in back-to-school efforts.

Guidance for Policy-Makers (Executive Summary)

by UNESCO and the Teacher Task Force

The AASA COVID-19 Recovery Task Force has created a consensus-driven set of guidelines for reopening schools effectively in the COVID-19 environment. View the Guidelines here.
Emergency Management, School Safety and Crisis Planning Center: chock-full of information, videos, peer discussion boards, articles, and more (AASA)

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND STUDENT SUPPORT

New ways of promoting a positive sense of well-being and healthy connections

Social-Emotional Learning Should Be Priority During COVID-19 Crisis (NEA article)
SEL Guidelines for Educators, Parents, and Caregivers during the pandemic: Roadmap to SEL, distance learning resources, and much more (created by CASEL)
Creating a Supportive Space for the Coronavirus Conversation: Tips and Insight for Educators

Back-to-School for Educators: Start With Relationships - a guide with articles and links
The National Association of School Psychiatrists has developed a set of materials for schools
10 Questions Teachers Should Ask to Ensure Student Security and Wellness During COVID-19
Responding to Child Abuse During a Pandemic: 25 Tips for Mandated Reporters

DISTANCE LEARNING AND COMMUNICATION

Adapting to teaching in virtual, physical, or blended learning environments

SERIES: Reaching and Teaching All Students With UDL (Universal Design for Learning): teachers' guides, lesson planning, and best practices (by Understood.org)
WideOpenSchool: Free distance learning activities and resources for teachers, separated by grade and topic
The Smithsonian has launched a central portal with free trainings, fantastic resources, and plans ranging from no-tech to high-tech activities

CHECKLIST: Building Developmental Relationships With Students During the COVID-19 Crisis
5 Reasons Students Aren’t Engaging in Distance Learning - and ways you can help
Strategies for Trauma-Informed Distance Learning (brief by the SEL Center at WestEd)
How Can Educators Tap Into Research to Increase Engagement During Remote Learning?

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ELL STUDENTS

Helping all learners participate equally and meaningfully

The Educating All Learners Alliance was created this year to support the education of students with disabilities during COVID-19. In its online hub, users can access resources, a community forum, webinars, and more.
The Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities has a wealth of resources focused on making online learning more accessible, engaging, and effective for students with disabilities.