When recent WSU graduate, Emily Metcalf accepted a teacher’s position halfway through the school year she knew she was going to have a difficult learning curve. Little did she know, she’d be teaching third grade from her childhood bedroom.
Metcalf accepted an offer from Liberty Ridge elementary in December where she would be taking over her first ever classroom. Not only did she achieve one of her biggest goals in life, but the job came with a highly-supportive faculty.
The daily agenda always started with a school-wide morning assembly, Metcalf said. From there, her class would learn about social behaviors, reading comprehension, mathematics and science all in one day.
As fast as it was for Metcalf to get her first classroom, the preventative measures to combat COVID-19 were even faster to take that classroom away.
On March 12th the Sumner-Bonney Lake school district informed parents and faculty via email that in person schooling would be canceled until April 24.
“We were told to offer review opportunities online and families were also able to access printed actives too for equity,” Metcalf said.
The entire staff at Liberty Ridge collaborated on educational material for students to practice during the closure. However, because not every student has access to a computer, all material was optional.
In a collective effort to maximize equity, the school district used funding from the Replacement Instructional Technology Improvements Levy.
The levy was passed in February of 2018 and focused on maintaining the 1:1 Technology Initiative. The six-year imposed tax will bring in an average of $5 million for funding each year until 2024.
Funding from the levy has provided students and teachers in the district with equitable access to a wide range of educational technology, such as Chromebooks.
The district put out an announcement explaining how students without access to internet or a digital device can pick up the needed technology at no cost to themselves, Metcalf said.
Districts that don’t have levy’s with as wide of a reach are finding help from other outlets.
Donation centers such as Eastside Baby Corner in the King Country school district have partnered with local tech companies to put laptops in the hands of students.
“Sometimes we get huge technology donations from companies,” said Helen Banks Routon, Director of development and community relations.
SAP Concur Company in Bellevue, Washington, donated 200 laptops after they did a company switchover, she said.
The non-profit has partnered with Friendly Earth, a recycling center in Seattle, to refurbish used laptops and give them out to families in need.
The recycling center estimates they have refurbished around 100 laptops since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Trevor Inman, an inventory control specialist for Friendly Earth.
The transition from education in person to online has been difficult for teachers who are learning as they educate.
“I wake up a lot earlier than I did when we went to school,” Metcalf said.
Every morning since the cancelation, Metcalf starts her day making videos for her students. Some videos give virtual shout-outs to kids who have been practicing skills, others are read-along stories of her students favorite books. Her email and communication boards are also open all day to help students and parents when they have questions.
Between creating assignments, meeting with faculty, and checking in on families, Metcalf has learned more about education then any situation before.
But even as she reads her students favorite book “The Cool Bean” though a laptop camera, Metcalf doesn’t stop dreaming about the day she can finally go back to school.
Emily Metcalf
Liberty Ridge Elementary Teacher
253-350-3177
Helen Banks Routon
Director of Development and Community Relations
425-372-7525
Trevor Inman
Inventory Control Specialist for Friendly Earth
206-367-4111
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