All posts by Tom Covington

Blog, Podcast Episode

Resources for Homeless EDU

Leave a comment

 

In the special Bonus Episode, we cover:

1. the growing homeless crisis in SoCal,

2. What the actual definition of homeless is according to the McKinney-Vento Act,

3. What specific rights are guaranteed to homeless students in our districts,

4. Resources within our school district and other school districts for our homeless students,

5. Questions leaders should be considering as we reopen campus in regards to homeless education,

6. Tips to help teachers recognize homeless students, and ways teachers can help these students in and out of the classroom, and finally,

7. resources from LA County (https://www.211la.org) to help residents with homelessness, as well as a wide variety of issues.

I researched the topic thought he LACOE website (https://www.lacoe.edu/Student-Services/Homeless-Children-Youth) , the CDE website (https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs/), and even national resources from the National Center for Homeless Education website (https://nche.ed.gov/).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Blog

Opportunity Knocked . . . The Update!

Leave a comment
let the good times roll!

So, it has been a few months and I have been working back in my DLMI TOSA role, doing social media, live-streaming graduation, installing over a million dollars of technology into classrooms and making sure teacher are comfortable using it, you know, the usual. I didn’t get the Director’s job, but you can read about that here. This post is an update!

Well, around June 2nd, I got news that the New Technology Director (hired Jan. 26 at a board meeting and with a start date of March 1, 2021) tendered his resignation and would be resigning as of June 4, 2021. During the shock and surprise, I got a call from our Personnel Commission asking if I was still interested in the Director’s job.

I didn’t immediately know what to say. I was just denied the opportunity about three months before. What had changed in that time to suddenly make me a better candidate? I mean I do have extensive experience leading the district through the most technology-challenged and demanding time during our history. And I did roll out all those devices (with tons of help, but I was quarterbacking and planning). And I do have a ton of historical and cultural perspective about our district, community, it’s teachers, principals, admin and students. But the reasons I was told I was not chosen (hint: no network certifications) had not changed. What was a technology loving English teacher to do?

Continue reading Opportunity Knocked . . . The Update! →