Letter to the editor

Editor and Sauk Prairie Community:   Each November, we celebrate American Education Week. Wow, this one is different. Like every part of our lives, education has been significantly disrupted by COVID-19. Our school buildings were closed last spring and our District launched a virtual education program and a mobile school lunch program to help support our students and families. This year, we welcomed our students back in a hybrid model and offered a virtual option to reduce the number of students on our campuses and to minimize the risk of school-based spread. School is different than it was. As crazy as it sounds, let’s look for the good that comes from disruption -- and the growth that can come from change. Our teachers and students have learned to work together in virtual classrooms. We have moved more learning outdoors. We have lengthened many class periods to reduce the mixing of groups -- and have found more time for teachers and students to share and collaborate as a result. Our remodeling project at the High School now includes more flexible student workspaces. This disruption has forced us to grow.  I lift up all those who have helped with this growth. Our teachers and staff have found creative and collaborative ways to learn with each other and better support our students. Our students have demonstrated amazing resilience. Our families have been patient and supportive partners.    During this American Education Week, please take a moment to thank our hard-working educators. Celebrate how our community’s teachers, staff members, and administrators have embraced this COVID challenge and how they continue to lead the growth of our Sauk Prairie Schools.     Sincerely,   Jeff Wright Superintendent, Sauk Prairie School District