So much has changed in the last year due to the global pandemic! In this Faculty Research Symposium, we highlight some of the research works happening in SEHD regarding pandemic impacts.
Please join us Tuesday, April 6 from 10:00 – 11:30. RSVP here
Advocating for Students During Distance Learning:
The Role of the School Counselor
Carlos Hipolito
The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to rush into distance learning, prioritizing academics and limiting consideration of students’ socioemotional needs. Given that distance learning is likely to be a recurring experience, school counselors should understand this unique context to better advocate for student needs. Through this illustrative case study, we sought to understand the distance learning experience of students, specifically examining barriers experienced and desired support, in an urban school district in the western United States. We conducted classroom observations, interviews, and town hall observation with students who were part of an action civics program in the district. Following thematic data analysis, we found that student participants described themes of challenges (with subthemes of online learning and outside of school), needs (with subthemes of community and student voice), and communication. Based on these findings, we argue for school counselors to use student voice to inform advocacy efforts in addressing student needs during distance learning.
Parenting in a pandemic:
New research of the impact of COVID-19 on parent’s mental health
Lisa Forbes & Courtney Donovan
This study examined United States parents’ mental health, alcohol, and substance use behaviors during COVID-19. Data were collected from a representative, crowdsourced sample of 1,048 U.S.-based parents in March and April 2020. Mean scores indicated severe levels of depression and stress and extremely severe anxiety. 74.7% indicated alcohol use in the past month, with 26.5% indicating problem alcohol use and nearly half of the sample reported using at least one substance in the past two weeks. The long-term impact of COVID-19 is unknown and mental health care is likely to be in high demand moving forward.
Remote learning for young children during COVID-19: Perspectives of early childhood personnel
Elizabeth Steed & Nancy Leech
This presentation will discuss the design, results, and implications of two mixed methods studies exploring how remote learning services were provided to young children (birth through five years of age) during COVID-19. Both studies utilized findings from a nationally distributed survey completed by early childhood personnel; one study focused on the experiences of lead early childhood teachers and another study focused on the views of early childhood special educators and related service personnel who provided services and supports to young children with disabilities. Participants’ perspectives will be shared regarding the types of remote learning provided, support for families without internet access, and reported challenges. Implications will be discussed as they relate to using remote approaches for young children when in person learning is not possible.
Early Education in Latinx Households: Lessons on home-school partnerships from Covid-19
Cristina Gillanders & Lucinda Soltero-Gonzalez
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted communities, particularly low-income families of Color. The closure of early childhood education programs along with current social distancing measures have resulted in the need for collaboration between preschool teachers and parents. In this presentation, we will discuss the results of a qualitative study examining how low-income Spanish-speaking Latinx parents supported their children’s early education at home during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will share findings from interviews with 20 parents with regards to parent-teacher collaboration, the variety of practices in which parents engaged their children to support their learning and well-being as well as parent reported challenges.
Resilience, reorientation, and reinvention:
School leadership during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scott McLeod
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly across the globe, many schools struggled to react both quickly and adequately. Schools were one of the most important societal institutions to be affected by the pandemic. However, most school leaders have little to no training in crisis leadership, nor have they dealt with a crisis of this scale and this scope for this long. Dr. McLeod will present his findings from interviews of 43 school organizations around the globe about their responses during the early months of the pandemic.
COVID-19 District Responses
Julie Oxenford O’Brian, Kent Seidel, & Tony Romero
This presentation will provide an overview of insights gained from statewide surveys of teachers and leaders, regarding the ways that COVID lockdowns have impacted teaching and teachers, students, and leaders in Colorado’s K12 systems. They will also discuss on-going research plans that will help schools and districts in their rebuilding efforts.