Pandemics

Abstract

The whisper of COVID-19 floated through schools like a wind blowing in the midst of a late winter day. A harbinger of something remote seemed so far away from everyday life, yet imminently chilling and foreboding. Spring 2020 erupted into distinct intersections: COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd. What began as a highly anticipated sense of renewal morphed into living life in a bubble of surrealism in the midst of a national shutdown. Americans became astounded witnesses to the disruption, and at times destruction, of their lives and livelihoods, signifying a modern-day time of trials and tribulations. No time in recent history has tested the fortitude of so many. Yet, this time has also presented an opportunity to determine who educators are and who they will become. The uncertainty as a result of the shutdown of the education system, its transformation, and re-launch has driven educators to reevaluate their future roles.