It has been almost two weeks since educators across America were told we would have to take our classes online. Standardized tests have been cancelled and questions of equity arise as - for my student population - there is uncertainty in how many students actually have internet access and stable enough home environments to complete their work.

As an English teacher and artist - who often feels confined by what I am mandated to teach - a virtual classroom comes as a bit of a relief; I am able to introduce my students to literature and writing in a way that was previously frowned upon. I am able to create lessons that introduce the intellect of Black literature, and art, and history in a way the school system does not allow.

I am interested to see what the educational sector looks like after things “return to normal.” I do not believe things will ever return to how they were and we will all be charged with adapting to these new times. Virtual classrooms are an opportunity for this generation to guide their learning and expose them to working technology in a capacity outside of Twitter and TikTok. It is also an opportunity for those who want to learn and practice writing to be involved in their own education.

This pandemic forces us to look deeper into issues urban educators have known for years - the vast inequity and problematic foundation of how we educated poor, Black, and Brown students.

These are strange times indeed! Are you a parent with a high school aged student and don’t know where to turn for the English classes? Check out my self paced virtual classes.