Public schools will be forever altered by the events of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a rapid transition to remote learning, abruptly shifting priorities to meal distribution, online teaching modalities, and providing access to reliable computing devices and high-speed internet. Concurrently, international marches for racial justice commanded deeper reflection in our education systems on longstanding inequities across student enrollment, discipline, and learning outcomes. In response to these events, educational researchers have sharpened their attention on issues of equity and pursued insights into how the pandemic has impacted all who are involved in public education.
The challenges of last year commanded rapid adaptation and evolution for stakeholders across public education. So what comes next?
The 2021 Conference of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium will bring together stakeholders invested in educational research, policy, and practice to explore how public schools have changed this past year and where they should go from here. Together, we will explore issues and ideas that reimagine the promise of public education in a new era. The goals of the 2021 MERC Conference are:
To provide space for diverse perspectives to discuss
immediate and enduring issues in public education
To reflect on the successes and challenges of the past year, including lessons learned
and best practices in virtual schooling
To build community among educational stakeholders throughout metropolitan Richmond
To support regular interactions where respect, empathy, and
commitment are demonstrated between stakeholders
To collectively reflect on the promise of public education in a new era
What is the promise of public education?
In connection with the theme of our 2021 MERC Conference, our "Promise of Public Education" podcast series brings together researchers and educational stakeholders from the MERC region to explore prominent facet in public education "in a new era."
Jesse Senechal (MERC Director, VCU SOE) spoke with Deanna Fierro (Math Teacher at Tuckahoe Middle School in Henrico), Patricia Woodberry (Gifted and Talented Teacher in Richmond), Stacie Taylor (Teacher, Bell Creek Middle School in Hanover), and Terry Dozier (former Director of the Center for Teacher Leadership and Richmond Teacher Residency in the VCU SOE).
David Naff (MERC Associate Director, VCU SOE) spoke with James Carrigan (School Social Work Supervisor in Hanover), Erica Daniels (School Counselor at Vernon Johns Middle School in Petersburg), Donna Dockery (Director of Clinical Practice and an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling and Special Education, VCU SOE), Alex Peskin (Junior at Goochland High School in Goochland), Shenita Williams (School Social Worker in Henrico), and Lauren Wynne (Coordinator of Counseling Services in Chesterfield).
Brian Maltby (Disciplinary Hearing Review Officer in Hanover) spoke with Monica Murray (Principal of John Marshall HS in Richmond), Christopher Martinez (Principal of Patrick Henry HS in Hanover), Robert Lowerre (Director of Maggie Walker Governor's School), and Jon Becker (Associate Professor of Educational Leadership in the VCU SOE).
JoAna Smith (Dean of Students, L.C. Bird HS in Chesterfield) spoke with Caleb Kenney (class of 2021 graduate from Douglas Freeman HS in Henrico), Milagros Torres (Sophomore at L.C. Bird HS in Chesterfield), Mischa Roeung (Senior at Mechanicsville HS in Hanover), and George Hewan (Assistant Principal at Woodson HS in Fairfax).
David Naff (MERC Associate Director, VCU SOE) spoke with Jon Becker (Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, VCU SOE), Matt Caratachea (Coordinator of Technology Integration and Innovation for Goochland), Andrew Harris (MERC Research and Evaluation Assistant, VCU SOE), and Joy Washington (School Librarian at Cool Spring Primary School in King William).
Michelle Thompson (Occupational Therapist, Richmond) spoke with Tonya Epps (Elementary Intensive Support Self-Contained Teacher, Richmond), Kathryn Smith (Director of Exceptional Education, Henrico), and Serra De Arment (Assistant Professor of Special Education, VCU SOE)
Jose Alcaine (Director of Research Services, VCU SOE) spoke with Sera Lee (Graduate Student at VCU), Paige Elizabeth (Sophomore at VCU), and Sofia Alcaine (Sophomore at CNU)
