Hannah Drown, cleveland.com
But Mrs. Della Garrison and Mrs. Susan Pickelsimer were back at their stations, while remote learning was still underway, not only performing the long list of duties outlined for their roles, but helping to manage the additional issues caused by remote learning. “We fix backpacks, tie shoes and lend an ear to teachers and parents who need to vent,” Mrs. Pickelsimer said. “There are days I’m exhausted, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Often, when emergency contacts and traditional resources to locate missing students hasn’t been fruitful, they’ve turned to crowdsourcing, talking to students and asking questions to solve the puzzle and find the child. And in doing so, they’ve been able to track students as far away as New York. Their boots-on-the-ground approach to fighting truancy has been working in tandem with a new program implemented at Cleveland Metropolitan School District that allows the district to address attendance issues from a non-punitive, restorative approach.
“From that text conversation, we’re able to determine how many families have issues with transportation, health, food, housing or other barriers,” said Lorri Hobson, director of attendance for CMSD. “They’re then referred to the departments that can provide them with immediate support.”