BEF Funds 70+ Staff Hybrid Requests in Record Time

BEF Funds 70+ Staff Hybrid Requests in Record Time

Wednesday, May 12th, 2021

Our educators have taught during the pandemic with amazing grace. Through Comprehensive Distance Learning, In-Person Hybrid Instruction, and the mix of both, they have gone above and beyond for our students. 

Recognizing the unique needs associated with Hybrid instruction, the Foundation quickly worked to deliver resources for our schools and began distributing funds immediately following the District’s back-to-school announcement. In just three short weeks BEF funded 73 Staff requests, impacting nearly 9,000 students. Hybrid funding awards doubled the support typically distributed to Staff through BEF’s crowdfunding platform, Beaverton’s Choice. 

Classroom needs were varied, but all offered innovative solutions that were easily addressed with BEF support – like Sunset High School Teacher, Alisa Harvey’s solution to strengthen connections between distance and on-site students.

“Community is the cornerstone of successful learning. We created classroom community during CDL, but transitioning to Hybrid posed new challenges for teaching Zoomies and Roomies simultaneously,” explained Alisa.

She requested a microphone and a video streaming device to give students at home live access to the classroom and allow the entire class to communicate in real time. The technology may be simple, but the results are priceless, providing virtual students a sense of belonging, despite their distance. 

“What makes classroom teaching magical is the opportunity to have natural conversations,” said Alisa. “Now, students can talk freely to each other regardless of their location.”

While much of this spring’s support helped deliver expanded and basic supplies, the First Grade team at Springville asked for funds to add a little excitement to their end of year instruction. They created an End of the Year Countdown with themed days, featuring literature and STEAM activities to review the year’s lessons and further prepare students for the Second Grade. 

Through all the changes in teaching, educators have made our students a priority; BEF has been there every step of the way, finding solutions for Staff and student needs at all of Beaverton’s 54 schools.

You can support the great work BEF and our educators are doing too.