April 2020 Newsletter

Dear School of Education Community—

First, I hope you and your families are all healthy and coping with the enormous changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This month, instead of our usual e-newsletter, I wanted to check in with you about how the School of Education is responding to these uncertain times. 

Remote Learning

All of our classes for Spring Quarter are being offered remotely. I am incredibly grateful for the efforts of our faculty and staff who stepped up to make this transition to remote instruction on a very short timeline.

Status of Teaching Credential Candidates

Our teaching credential candidates have been directly impacted by K–12 school districts transitioning to remote instruction. We are in contact with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to understand options for program completion given the current circumstances, and will know more later this month. We will be working closely with our students to make sure they can complete their requirements and begin their teaching careers as soon as possible.

Master’s Degree Students

Fortunately, this year’s cohort of master’s degree students in our Teacher Education program were able to complete their requirements in Winter Quarter, presenting their final research at the Master’s Symposium on March 7, 2020. This was the last public event the School was able to hold before shelter-in-place orders were established, and we followed hand sanitizer and no-handshake protocols. You can view photos from the event here.  

Supporting California’s Education Leaders

Several of the School’s research centers regularly provide professional development for California’s principals, superintendents and community college presidents, and are exploring virtual meetings to help these education leaders connect with each other for ideas and support as they grapple with rapid transitions to remote learning. Our College Opportunity Programs staff are also working with local school districts on ways to improve or enhance their remote learning capabilities.

Give Day Is April 17–18, 2020

I profoundly appreciate all of you who have asked how you can support the School during this time. While UC Davis Picnic Day has been canceled, UC Davis Give Day—our annual 29-hour online fundraising drive—will still be held on April 17–18, 2020. In addition to opportunities to support student scholarships, innovative research and transformative programming, you can also give to the Dean’s Innovation Fund, from which I will be able to directly support students who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to make an immediate gift today, there is a “Give Early” option on our Give Day website.   

Thank you to everyone who is doing their part—whether that means working on the front lines in our health care system, providing other essential services in our communities or staying at home. We will get through this together.
 

Best,

Lauren E. Lindstrom
Professor and Dean