At least or more around, Jackie, as the President of my Union, the NEA it's wonderful conversation here always going to have a new mix of emotions and all at once to feel the anticipation of new classmates and new teachers and preparing to really go to Melbourne having me here, I'm bored again and again, you know, the anxiety of juggling your family's complicated schedule. And that was before the complications. So now, probably all of you feel character, you know, simple clocks, can really get your heart racing. You've done the quarantine to send your kids home, and your life once again. And parents, honestly, I know, it's so hard, but you're doing your best. And I want you to know, as a teacher for more than 30 years, in fact, I just started my own semester this last week. And as a mom, I've seen that the classrooms are just so much larger than places where children learn math and reading. You know, we've all seen it. When our kids make friends that lasts for years and years, and they learn to settle disagreements are fine. But to try out for sports teams, and hate As parents, we rely on schools to, you know, heading out to our own jobs and know that kids are in an environment that we can trust. And that's why I'm so grateful for the educators like those here, Marvin Pratt elementary to help us through the last year when families needed help the most educators answered. And it's also what I'm grateful for states like Wisconsin, and governors like yours that are providing strong leadership to free open our schools. The American rescue plan, increases access to broadband and tech devices, creates additional learning opportunities outside of the classroom, and provides more mental health support. And I go back to how long as we've been talking about this, right. So finally, we're doing it. And Governor Evans Evers is working closely with the Biden Harris administration, to make sure that Wisconsin has what they need to keep schools. And we've made so much progress. But I know parents still have questions. So I'm here today, because your children matter to me. And they matter to me. And my husband, Joe is committed to be a partner, all of you. And that's why he released a bold plan last week to make sure that all of our schools can stay safe and open by helping to ensure that the adults and the students who surround our children are vaccinated can't know what the future holds. But we know what we owe our children. We owe them a province that will do all that we can to keep their schools open. And as safe as possible. We owe them a commitment to follow the science. And we owe them unity. So we can fight the virus and not each other. So I'm here to talk today about how your school is welcoming students and back to in person learning. We've been here since August 16. And here's how it's going for your families. And I know this is complicated, but we're going to keep listening and we're going to keep learning from your experiences. And we are committed to working as hard for your children as you do. And together. I know that we are going to find a way forward. So principle evidence I guess it's up to you if you can start the compensation,
sir. Thank you so much. So again, I want to welcome you all to Marvin. He present he fully is our missions master. They are the maintaining elementary school with our work and we are so grateful to have this conversation. We're so honored that you came to join us and supervise the new members who really are right here on the ground doing the work to make sure our school remains a safe space for all of our founders. We're going to begin our conversation today with introductions. Introduce yourself with your first and last name, and also pay your salaries are better Dr. Biden in this triangle, of course, you need no introduction but for you to also introduce yourself to
Africa. Morning, thank you so much for welcoming us into your your incredible school. I am Peggy Crangle. I taught over 30 years, middle level learners the wonders of science. I have the incredible honor now to represent 3 million teachers support staff 100. aspiring educators, retired educators all over this country and around the world. And I am so proud that I have one of my members. Join me in this
morning. Good morning. My name is Alina habit. I am the teacher for a five year old kindergarten.
Good morning, everyone. My
name is Mary law. I'm a member of the White House COVID-19 response team in our work on school reopening. I'm really honored to be here today.
My name is Karen Johnson or data on the table.
My name is Rachel spill and everyone my
name is Molly Zika. And I am Dr. Biden's policy director. My name is Justin Davis. I have to say good morning everyone. My
name is Les Brown goose I was here than six months old. And in first grade and worried about in
the morning. I'm Joe Biden. I've been a teacher and educator for over 30 years like Becky, I'm still adding I do like i said i was started in the classroom again this fall last week. And a mom and grandma educator and American president Hello,
my name is Brittany edge on for another I have one seller that attends the school. He's in first grade and amazing Xavier.
Thank you so much ladies for helping me introduce ourselves and to our conversation. Remember that our purpose here is to really talk about what I've done was to save reopening of our schools, I like to take this moment to actually start with one of our educators is right here on the front line. You heard her introduce ourselves to early retirement in retirement, the question for you are is what are some things that you are doing in the classroom to ensure a safe reopening. And I'd love for you all to can just touch on what it took to get to this place, talking about some of the challenges but also the areas that we've been able to excel
at. So I wanted to start off with talking about the flip side of virtual learning from last year, we talked about how we were able to do that the lives of our students what our students were able to see inside of our lives. And that was very exciting, just making that thing for families of basically effortless because it was already done. And I believe that this helped children cope with the drastic change in their routine from last year and their education. For my room, we are trying to attempt on doing those trends. In the beginning of the year now that we're back in person. So academically as an educator, I'm trying to boost self esteem, like children and parents know that wherever whenever it happened last year, wherever you are, it's okay I don't want you to stress about it. The test does not define who you are, as a parent or we are as a student, or educator, we're going to meet you where you are, so we can get to where you need to be. It's heartbreaking to see a five year old, anxiously stressing over a test. So we're trying to boost that self esteem and let them know that they are right where they need to be and that we're here for that support anything they need.
From this family, thank you so much for those remarks. I'm going to now kick it over and let you guys hear from our families families who have been with us when Pingu blinds started but we are here in Houston. Their children to school during every opening. I'm going to start with you. Miss Johnson, thank you so much for being here with your grave lands. So I'd love for you to tell us what are your journey to a healthy school reopening for your
school open up my manual in the other person of course Mikey just started and then it was
very
good I did enjoy watching TJ just weren't happy. I was really concerned about the safety with things inside of school, that I was able to be within efficiency, I just hope that they can keep it up. With the staff, you're
absolutely besotted? Did you want to share anything about what it might look like for your family? And why do you want to be with both I'd have to come back to
the point that like the First Lady get saved on board again, no. And so that, that goes gets redirected propel, you can only do so much hide and seek with the key. Again, it was very stressful, there'll be another school for for me, I had to sit next to the computer. And just like go to the kitchen after messing around in the computer here. So I was I was excited as they as he was able to pick it up and you know, hopefully keep the school open.
I think I found that I started the game if I'd been so adaptable and flexible. So thank you very well and as the pyramids in their house and see how they were not all relevant, not all welder, but definitely utilizing the resources here, at least with me to help make the transition easier. But I'd love for you to share your story and our transition to working
for me and watching the transition. My daughter did get a chance to have a learning experience and traveling to California with her phone. And also things are said to help them rather work and couldn't provide for their children need help out and also ensure that they're supporting the quality with our family to provide for the children. My daughter's she did well coming back to us to be able to do this, our hair washing in bathroom
every day. So can you tell me a little bit more about the chair?
Is the government officials were they provided food? Or to help children?
So did your school provide meals as well? I know I visited a lot of schools where the cafeteria workers made meals for families that could be picked up or they dropped them off. Did you experience that as well? Yes,
we do. We do go to other high schools where they do have school lunch time during lunch break.
And did you experience that as well, where you use the food services are your children
under five policies so they can hear and ride his bike over to pick up his lunch. And then you have a very nice sign where you
were here during that time I was I was I was in another world because this is a very similar experience. If you again provide those resources. There's no error. I'm sorry misspell anything else you
want to hear about. And
you talk a little bit yesterday about the real concerns with coming back into learning for your child to hear about that.
Microphone I was with the social distancing. Need to hand washing making sure they say, hand washing machines over the bed for the children, as they say, on the playgrounds and their math and everything. So that was my biggest concern, just keeping the kids safe.
Or the kids are pre
bracing, what's happening to be back in her brain. She was part of Girl Scouts, though she seen making the social interactive classroom teachers and said, so while we were on Virgin Mary, I would have to pull out my iPhone and let her based on her brand, and she did a paraphrase and everything other people did pretty well. My teacher, my daughter's teacher from last year, and her name, CJ drop off the bags, and she's pretty creative. You know, they got a chance to see her even though it was through a screen right? Or
I think that connection, and I'm sure you know, I mean, that connection with the kids means so much to them, right. And just the little things I think that you do, or just the notes that I'm sure you say your students, I mean, just keep in touch, attach to them, ask them how they're doing. So watch, really just like you're doing.
Absolutely Miss Davis, love for you to share about your family's journey dependent learning and now.
So last year
was the year I have to do a little back to work full time. He sacrificed his outside work life, to stay home with your children. And being and it was going to be the first year they were both attending school full time. So he was, you know, we're planning on there, which didn't happen with the virtual learning. So he continued to stay home, it was a lot for him and I had the option, he did an excellent job that taught my daughter last year virtually and now has my son in person if you're very grateful. I was a I'm an operating room nurse, I was able to adapt my shirt to work 70 hours one week, and then we are happy to kind of help offset for him. The burden and an opposite children are better than or that the the learning was a burden but making sure that they get everything they need to hugely stressful and you know, we're not we're not teachers, teachers have one of the most important jobs in the world. These are my kids, this is our future. And of course the mental health aspect. We've been very, very, I am a strong nurse, I work with adult products. We have a lot of a lot of social issues that are the product of environmental things and whatnot, not all but you see things and building strong kids and kind of people and educating them to heal that.
Now I I agree. You've had a lot of stress. So a new a new special a lot to work 70 hours a week, even though you might have had the next week, you're saying off in your mind. You don't have to because not only are you cooking and cleaning and taking care of the kids and doing your own schedule. So what did you do for yourself?
Um, but my honestly my husband does a lot. He did a lot of that cooking and cleaning laundry. If they're okay, my kids are okay, I'm okay. This is not my long term plan. I was primarily a chef. This is what we're doing right now. Now that they're back in school. We're just going to maintain what we've been doing and hopefully, if we can maintain the school, you're staying in person in school. That's a huge
I agree
and hopefully, hopefully we can get a vaccine for the younger kids going and my sister is an educator, she's worked in medicine, which is a lot of fun. I was also hoping that my my mother got enough vaccine.
That's what we're hoping for. Right, Mary? I mean, we are hoping that you know, pretty soon and I mean, Mary can tell you better than our she's on the COVID team. But you know how soon We're hoping to get a vaccine for kids under 12. Let's say
better, but we are we are hoping and the President announced last week that the administration will support every last elements of support that the FDA needs to suddenly and scientifically review the vaccine. We are still hoping for later this year, you don't have a full iPhone later this year. But we do feel really confident that with these measures in place measures like what's happening here at Arby's that we can stay in school safely, we can prevent transmission. And so it's so important as we are, as we're building these routines as a user, as an a new school year that we can, we can stay safe, we can keep guns, but
basically, I think they've done a great job.
Thank you.
I mean, I'll say thank you to Mary and the COVID. Team.
And the teachers when they visited the open house, the class sizes are smaller. The dividers were out. There hasn't done a debate about the massing situation and has no, it's not that I need to sorry. I know. My words
are here. That probably just takes that stress off of you as well. I couldn't find myself. Yeah, but you're all unified. And that's really, really striking.
And I was curious
whether you're able to use the data
from the chairman.
I'm planning to defer to Mr. Barrett, the President about AFP funding. The question was about AARP. I'll take it Oh,
yes, we have pushed dollars and two s are, what the wrestle want, as well as so to to make sure that we can mitigate COVID-19 with class sizes or things of that nature, we first came back, we were at 15 to one and two very classrooms. And that was a smaller classroom spread out. So as a three is going to the board on the 23rd. And also, we will be looking at smaller class sizes and things of that nature, along with a number of other things that we were able to support
our children. Now divine, I are really glad to hear that and working really hard. The President worked really hard to ensure that things like class size, were addressed things like meaning in schools and surrounding our schools with the support from communities and mining, the assets of the community are morphing. So thank you, thank you for sharing.
Yes, thanks. Oh, nice to have the superintendent. And I'm going to go ahead and segue from the news similar story and journey. And I'd love for you to share that with us.
I do have 100 senators going to miss David, marching, probably everything. Because not only is your media grief at work, so we are a family of five that means you're fed up that bad times when you're in business. Sorry, we're actually working on CDs are full of issues with ledger America. So we were thought we have my friend formation with a author on the walking services in Africa. Lately unify. So we've been working with two different schedules, five different teams, by computers, teachers, assignments with everything all across the board. Now like I was saying at home, I work so long I'm working in the healthcare field. I am focused at home to say okay, I'm here My life has been kind of boring. There were times where I will have to leave work, because there was like notice to transfer five different keys by the computers that come help me. So there was some days where I will have to leave work or have to clogging it. As far as that part of the Chicago I'm sure every parent has to figure out a different schedule as far as who's going to stay at home who's talking with kids who's not work because we're not getting lunches. We also experience coming up to the school and getting them to open up for school supplies and things of that nature. I know Miss Miller when she was informing my daughter, her teacher for 30 years. She was extremely You might not well your school supplies will pick up a monitor that will communication with the children it was it was awesome that what the teachers done we were ending to this near transition and back. They weren't the first to get everyone back, went back to school opened up naturals and luckily they were excited to get back into school and do what I need to do this year as a result of our awesome awesome teacher. This has been a she let me know that he's reading his learning is excellent. I think we do pretty well boys as well. Yeah. That that is hearing so I was actually happy that the virtual money worked for my children, that they were still able to stay on public route. And my roommate and Matt, my bladder became three. By the end of the year, I know that the vote was just to fill that first night lady, she was already her last name and writing it very well. So I definitely did some I require teachers, here's my letter to MIT being an amazing.
You're the leader of the teachers. And I think, Becky, I felt like parents really realize how hard teachers work. And you know, what all is involved in the career of being a teacher, you know, that it's not just a nine to three job. I mean, it's like a 24 hour job. Because as you know, I'm sure many of the parents here, you've probably contacted your teachers at seven o'clock or eight o'clock, or when you got home from work. It wasn't during that nine to three school day. So, you know, I have to say, I think our teachers have been amazing in how they've stepped up. And it's all you know, and it's leadership. I mean, it's leadership in each tool, you set the tone. And so it's so great to hear really positive stories about teachers, and this is what I've heard, you know, just across this country that I think teachers really stepped up to answer the call,
thank you so much, I would be remiss if I did not say it takes a village, right. And so I have the responsibility to lead that I cannot do that without my team behind me that I really wanted to understand and can share with you just what that report was, like.
He shared with me before, and also
specifically, even this year, was helping in the classroom.
So my son has been here since k four, he started out going in person and then went. And me and my boyfriend, myself, I really didn't know what we were going to do if I was going to have to stop working, or you know, my mom, she'd only work part time, as she talked it over with my father. And they decided to when she was stopped working, so she stopped working for me, because she's my son and to be his merchant. And without her, I wouldn't have been able to do anything. Like she was my rock. She did everything. By keeping know when he was sick. And like, he was like doing his learning like he was in the cabinet. If she could tell you like, my mom was always on, they're always on point with him. Like she said, he did play like he tried to do this. But then he brought other cuboid molars like that. You can't do that. And like, she would get smaller. And she did everything. And I couldn't the same way that I would feel as much as I can. So if you'll be able to work. Hello, father, it was such a blessing.
You're lucky that you had that family support, because not everybody knew that. That is
very true.
Yeah.
And then if I could use this a little bit more with the reef opening, I'm imagine that you're born last week with a special kid, once you come to
my site, he stands out with a friend and he sends out a newsletter. And she was letting us know that those days that my classroom needed, and one of the things on aging that she needed to care for her mother brought in wonderful bags, paper towels, and everything, because you never can have enough.
That's true. That's true. But the AARP did provide for that. To get that plug in,
order you so much to everybody for sharing your stories and our new platform. You know, taking that into your lives. And again, people see my
gosh, you know, I just, I mean, I love coming here, I see how committed you all are. I mean, the mothers, the father's the great grandmothers, God bless you, but we need for him to help our kids get through this difficult time. And, Shai, I really appreciate your time today, to come in to share your stories and I'll take them back. You know, I'll take them back to the White House with me and I'll you know, when I see my husband and we're having dinner, I'll say this is what I learned today. This is what do Parents need or they don't need or what they're struggling with, or this is what your kids need. And, you know, I have to say as an educator, we've been married 40 Six years. So he's heard and I've been teaching over, like 3738. And so every day I come home and tell you story. So he will hear your stories. And that's why I appreciate what you all have said today because I always thought that he would listen. I always felt as president, he wouldn't listen to educators because I'm like, I'm an educator, you better but anyway, thank you for your time today. I really
thank you so much. And I believe for the participants. We are going to procedure and we're going to transition to the next point. Yes, yes. Goodbye.
