After last year’s chaos and uncertainty, this school year looks to be calmer, more productive and — to the amazement of everyone — “almost normal,” teachers and other school staff said at an EdSource roundtable on Thursday.
“We learned a lot through the pandemic. One of the things that came out of it is that we didn’t realize how much need was in the community. … But we now feel ready,” said Erick Rouanzoin, principal of Fruitvale Junior High School in Bakersfield, who said his school set up a food pantry and had the school’s social worker connect families to local services. “We’re in Day 3 and the kids are super excited. There’s a great energy. I don’t feel the same anxiety, and that’s a really exciting place to be.”
(Photo: Meg Foss)
