An ‘energizing week’ as teachers, students complete first week of hybrid learning

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Author: Steven Spearie – State Journal Register Published: 4:51 p.m. CT January 17, 2021 Danielle Lewis, a second grade teacher at Hazel Dell Elementary School, said she signed up to teach in the hybrid model because she didn’t have any health conditions that would prevent her from being in-person with students. Lewis, who has taught in … Read more An ‘energizing week’ as teachers, students complete first week of hybrid learning

District 186 readies itself for return of students to classrooms

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Author: Steven Spearie – State Journal-Register Published at 4:23 pm January 11, 2021 Brian Daugherty has a desk calendar hanging on his wall at home that has counted the days he’s been away from his Jefferson Middle School special education students in a classroom because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By Tuesday, when Daugherty is set to … Read more District 186 readies itself for return of students to classrooms

District 186 school board members hope ‘downward trend’ of metrics continues

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Author: Steven Spearie State Journal-Register Published at 11:30 p.m. CT December 21, 2020 Springfield School District 186 board members said Monday they liked where a set of metrics governing the in-person return of students Jan. 12 is headed, but remained leery about a post-Christmas and New Year’s spike. Meanwhile, Superintendent Jennifer Gill will be sending a … Read more District 186 school board members hope ‘downward trend’ of metrics continues

Police get creative with Christmas giveaway at Fairview School

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COVID can’t deter Cops, Kids, and Christmas Author: Steven Spearie, State Journal Register Photographer: Justin Fowler Published 6:38 p.m. CT, December 17, 2020 It has been an admittedly tough year for Alissa Smith of Springfield. Smith lost her job because she had to quarantine, even though she tested negative for COVID-19. So seeing smiles on the … Read more Police get creative with Christmas giveaway at Fairview School

After dealing with COVID-19, Springfield teachers find ‘blessings’ in life

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Author: Steven Spearie – State Journal Register Date: November 25, 2020 Corina Ousley said it was “a blessing” how she and her family got through bouts with COVID-19 this summer. There were for Ousley, a fifth-grade teacher at Dubois Elementary School, days of agony, including chronic fatigue and a precarious loss of taste and smell. … Read more After dealing with COVID-19, Springfield teachers find ‘blessings’ in life

As district takes ‘test run,’ working parents search alternative places for students

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By Steven Spearie The State Journal-Register Posted Aug 31, 2020 at 6:51 PM Tiffany Mathis acknowledged that parents are having to make tough decisions, especially since the School District 186 board of education voted to start with an all-remote model, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We knew there would be a huge need for … Read more As district takes ‘test run,’ working parents search alternative places for students

Commentary: Remote learning expectations rigid, unrealistic

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By Emelie Cherrone Posted at 1:30 PM I write to you as a teacher with District 186, a family with a student in district, and a concerned citizen. The last semester was stressful and frustrating at times for everyone involved. We were (and still are) learning the ins-and-outs of “Remote Learning” together. Now, as we … Read more Commentary: Remote learning expectations rigid, unrealistic