ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the stories of a high school leader, teacher, and student to present a cross-sectional look at the initial COVID-19 school closures and subsequent transition into distance learning. These stories illustrate that the transition was not an easy one, nor was it a task that former training or protocol had fully prepared anyone for. Additionally, this transition exposed some of the inequities present in the school system. Though many schools and institutions experienced shortcomings, this time of transition demonstrated what some of the more effective aspects of our school system were or could be, including teacher collaboration, relying on various voices in decision-making processes, and the ability to pivot quickly and adapt to new learning conditions. The transition also underscored an important shift in values toward greater human connection and care for one another’s core human needs.
