In June of this year, Oakland Schools and the Oakland County Health Division formed a partnership called the Oakland Together School Nurse Initiative. This initiative led to the hiring of 68 nurses who were deployed to all 28 school districts in Oakland County. The nurses are to provide public health strategies and direction to staff and students with the goal of stopping the spread of COVID-19. 

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Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis

We know school leaders are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to planning class for the fall. They must think about students' social-emotional health AND learning needs. Both have to be attended to. Leaders can't pick one or the other. So, the question is, how do school leaders manage this balancing act?

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Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis

The transition back to school is going to be tough for everyone this year. Last year, with the pandemic, school went completely online then ended as it always does with the start of summer. But the bottom-line is in late August when students start coming back, it will have been months since they were in a classroom for face-to-face learning. This transition is likely to hit younger students the hardest as this may be the first time they have even gone into a classroom. In particular, the move from preschool to kindergarten is difficult for many youngsters.

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With school starting back up in the fall, many parents are having to make the tough decision of whether to have their children go back into the classroom or pick online learning options. For the past seven years, Oakland Schools has already been offering an online option for those interested. The program, called Virtual Learning Academy Consortium, or VLAC for short, offers an at-home learning program for grades K-12. In this episode, we talk with the director of VLAC who provides us with some tips and tricks for successful online learning this fall. 

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This is the second part of our series where we are interviewing Oakland Schools' employees who are helping out their communities. In the second segment, we will talk about two of our Oakland Schools' staff who are on the frontlines working to help those in need of food and shelter.

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Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis

This is the first of a two-part podcast where we are talking to Oakland Schools' employees who are helping out their communities. In this first segment, we touch base with our Oakland Schools Technical Campuses, as well as one of our early childhood compliance consultants. Both are great examples of going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis

Oakland Schools' Diversity and Equity Consultant Dr. Jay Marks talks about cultural proficiency and how he teaches the subject to school leaders and students throughout the community. 

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Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis

Oakland Schools Technical Campus-Southeast (Royal Oak) Dean Amy Gole and Oakland Schools Technical Campus (Wixom) Dean Martin Kaye and student Nihal Suthakar discuss what opportunities Oakland Schools Technical Campuses can provide for local students. 

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Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis

Oakland Schools' Assistant Superintendent and Chief Information Officer Tammy Evans and Oakland Schools Service Desk Supervisor Robin Evenson discuss how the Oakland Schools Service Desk was recently given the opportunity to provide tech support for MIServiceDesk, which is a statewide pre-K-12 initiative. This move puts Oakland Schools at the forefront of technology plans taking place at the state level. 

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Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis

Oakland Schools' Director of Government and Community Services Lisa Hansknecht talks about school aid funding and exactly how it works. She debunks myths to help give listers a better understanding of how Oakland County school districts are funded. 

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Host: Oakland Schools' Communications Specialist Sarah Davis