Teaching in the Pandemic Age

Teaching in the pandemic age will certainly change how students learn and the future of work for teachers. “I think that [the pandemic] has built a conversation of what public school will look like going forward.” – Maggie Hansford, Prince William Education Association President Maggie Hansford represents public school teachers, students, parents, and guardians in Virginia’s second-largest municipality. Many schools are starting the year with remote or virtual instruction. Maggie thinks that many of the technological and operational changes put into use will remain after the pandemic is over. In this episode, Maggie discusses how: “Going virtual” stresses teachers, students, parents, and guardians. Starts at 2:48 New technologies like Zoom and Canvas will forever change the classroom. Starts at 4:43 Seasoned teachers are considering early retirement. Starts at 7:10 Attracting top talent to teaching remains a difficult challenge. Starts at 12:01 Teaching pods are changing instruction. Starts at 14:00 Teachers, parents, and guardians can overcome the tension caused by remote learning. Starts at 17:24 On the sudden popularity of teaching pods, Maggie says: “So, it all boils down to life. Everybody is trying to balance work-life, teaching, and helping their students. We have a million things on our plates and now we’ve just added another element to help ensure that our children are successful. If [teaching pods] are what parents need then I don’t see an issue.” About our guest: Maggie Hansford is a teacher and speech pathologist in Northern Virginia’s Prince William County Public Schools. In 2020, she was elected president of the Prince William Education Association (PWEA). Maggie and her family reside in Prince William County, Virginia. EPISODE DATE: September 11, 2020 Social media: – Website – Facebook – Twitter