May 20, 2020 - Staff Digest

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Dear SFUSD Staff:

As we approach the end of the school year, I know there are many questions about how and when we will be returning in the Fall. For now, please plan for school to be in session for students in some form starting August 17. Given current guidance from public health and education officials, we are considering a variety of approaches and scenarios, all of which will require major changes in how we deliver instruction in order to minimize health risks for our students and staff and their families. We’ll be keeping in touch all summer long and will gather input along the way as we navigate these uncharted waters together.

End of School Year Instruction

The SFUSD school year ends June 2nd for all SFUSD students. Teachers will continue to engage students through the end of the school year, as always. 

Starting on Friday, May 22nd through Tuesday, June 2nd, elementary classroom teachers will conduct conferences via phone call (or video call). From May 22nd through June 2nd, teachers will continue to engage students in the daily 4 hours of instruction/engagement, although there might be an increase in independent projects and tasks and decrease in teacher-interactive and group lessons.

No new material will be taught during this time, but instruction will  review material from previous activities and lessons, as well as extension and enrichment.

Graduating or Moving On from SFUSD? 

Graduating seniors and students who are leaving SFUSD and not enrolling in an SFUSD school in August 2020 must return SFUSD property, including borrowed technology, textbooks, and musical instruments before the end of the school year. Collection days will be scheduled during the summer at select locations. Check the weekly family digest and www.sfusd.edu for updates.

Para Institute

The 4th Annual SFUSD Paraeducator Institute will be held virtually August 11-14, 2020 (Tuesday-Friday). Paraeducators will select from a menu of daily virtual workshops. Attendees are paid through the 7 Hour Mandatory Contractual PD Day (paid at hourly rate) and/or the 18 Paid Professional Development Hours (paid at $22 per hour). Between the two, paraeducators could attend up to 25 hours of paid professional learning during pre-service week. Contact Nora Houseman with any questions: HousemanN@sfusd.edu

Paraeducators, learn more:

• 2020 Para Institute Flyer
• 2020 Para Institute Registration link
• OASIS Posting

Reminder - Department of Technology Update: Friday Availability

Through the end of June, the Department of Technology (DoT) will adjust its hours and availability on Fridays to enable the team to support open requests, to work remotely, and to support planning and professional learning of team members. 

The DoT will work remotely on Fridays through the end of June. No DoT on-site, public-facing support will be available on Fridays. The Help Desk will be open for phone calls from SFUSD staff from 7:30am to 1pm. Remote support via the Help Desk online system will be available in the afternoons.

Reminder - Technology Resources to Support Distance Learning

• Teacher Created Instructional Resources - Find curated school YouTube channels, web sites, technology tips, and slide decks across grade levels and content areas. 
  • Do you know of a resource you think will benefit others? Add it to our Teacher Created Resources form.
• Digital Learning Youtube Playlists - This growing resource contains playlists on video conferencing tools, Google Classroom, Seesaw, other SFUSD tools, and instructional strategies that support distance learning. Bonus: playlist with recordings of all digital learning webinars.

Webinars and Professional Learning - Take advantage of Office Hours and webinars to help you make the most of digital learning.

HealSF has a helpful list of mental health Resources for educators and school staff

In case you missed it, last week was Classified Employee Week. While there are thousands of classified employees I’d like to appreciate, I mention a few of the important people working on the frontlines of our SFUSD response here in my weekly column in the SF Examiner. Thank you to all classified employees! 

Warm regards,
Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews