Presented by Jessica Ruiz-Ahorrio, Grant Program Manager, The School District of Osceola County (FL); Dr. Jeffrey O. Holmes, Senior Executive Director, Curriculum Programs and Services, Baltimore County Public Schools (MD); Michele Stansbury, Title 1 Director, Baltimore County Public Schools (MD); and Brian Galvin, Chief Academic Officer, Varsity Tutors

Sponsored by Varsity Tutors

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School closures during the pandemic exacerbated challenges facing more than 1.3 million students who experience housing insecurity and rely on schools for meals, internet access, and social services. In response, many schools and communities found innovative ways to bring students everything from meals to WiFi.

In this session, you hear from panelists who come from districts where these innovations have paved the way for districtwide initiatives using repurposed buses to deliver meals and serve as mobile hubs for internet access and remote learning. These mobile learning recovery centers provide a safe, secure place for students without homes to receive tutoring and homework help, basic healthcare services, and healthy meals. View for a discussion with leaders from The School District of Osceola County in Florida and Baltimore County Public Schools in Maryland about how COVID-era innovations have helped them reimagine their approaches to serving hard-to-reach students.

This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 school and district leaders and education technology leaders.

About the Presenters

Jessica Ruiz-Ahorrio has been an educator since 1998. She completed a BA in French Language and Literature from the University of Puerto Rico and a master’s degree in education from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Jessica has dedicated 25 years to education as a teacher for English language learners, instructional coach, reading specialist, and ESOL specialist in Title I schools. As an educator, she has pioneered supplemental educational programming like the SMART Bus to support students experiencing homelessness and students in high-needs communities. In addition, she has steered the partnership with the two largest hospitals in Central Florida, AdventHealth and Orlando Health, to provide health education and healthy snacks to promote healthy habits and lifestyles.

Dr. Jeffrey O. Holmes is an education “lifer”! For more than three decades, he has served in three large school districts in the Baltimore-Washington region in positions from substitute teacher to Chief of Schools. He is currently employed with Baltimore County Public Schools where he serves as Senior Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction. In this role, he assists the CAO with the leadership, management, and development of executive directors and their departments. As an impactful instructional leader, Dr. Holmes has coached, mentored, and supervised PreK-12 school administrators, principal supervisors, and executive directors. Under his leadership, many schools have seen increases in student achievement and changes in school culture and climate. Pertinent to this edLeader Panel, Dr. Holmes is the Co-Implementation Coordinator of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future for Baltimore County Public Schools.

Ms. Michele Stansbury is a passionate educational advocate devoted to collaborating with fellow educators and stakeholders to offer students and families opportunities and access to resources that support student success. Originally from the East New York and Brownsville region of Brooklyn, New York, her purpose in life was inspired by her childhood experiences which eventually led her to an unexpected opportunity to attend Morgan State University. Following her graduation from Morgan State University, she began her career as a BCPS classroom and mentor teacher, in the southwest region of Baltimore County. During her years as a teacher, she earned a master’s degree from Towson University in Educational Leadership and a second master’s from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in STEM Education. After working with and learning from some of the most phenomenal BCPS leaders, Ms. Stansbury went on to become a Title I program specialist, Title I supervisor, Title I coordinator, an Aspen Ideas Fellow, a Towson University Adjunct Teacher, and now the proud director of the magnificent BCPS Title I, Homeless Educational Support Programs and Community Schools office team. Her most proud accomplishments have been found in her role as a mother, daughter, sister, and friend.

Brian Galvin is the chief academic officer for Varsity Tutors, the nation’s largest live learning platform. A lifelong educator with a master’s degree in education from the University of Michigan, he has taught thousands of students, trained hundreds of instructors, and authored dozens of lesson books. At Varsity Tutors, he oversees the development of live academic and enrichment classes, adaptive assessments, and on-demand learning programs. He is also creator and host of the company’s StarCourse lessons–taught with astronauts, Olympians, TV hosts, and other distinguished teachers–and Test Prep 4 All series. His educational videos have over three million views on YouTube.

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