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University Academy Embraces Challenges, Change Amid Pandemic

By Dr. Jo Ann Simmons

University Academy Superintendent 

UT Tyler University Academy is an open-enrollment charter laboratory school that serves students in grades K-12. We currently serve 835 students across the greater Tyler, Longview and Palestine area. Over the last nine years, students have been engaged in blended learning through the use of project and problem-based learning models. High school students are engaged in dual credit courses taught by UT Tyler professors. The charter is focused on supporting students through STEM Pathways that incorporates 21st century skills into all aspects of the school. Our school environment develops technologically literate students who are problem-solvers. The school also focuses on soft skills supporting the scholar’s communication skills and teamwork, and fosters creativity, flexibility and personal productivity. We have high expectations for students to be independent learners with the goal of university readiness. 

In March of 2020, educators faced some of the greatest challenges when K-12 schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Classrooms, hallways and cafeterias were all left vacant, while educators scrambled to find ways to support students virtually. The normalcy of students reporting to classrooms, welcomed by teachers was no longer a reality.  

Students and teachers left school celebrating the upcoming spring break holiday, but were unable to return. Our students were sitting at home, not receiving the traditional educational support needed to help them progress through their learning. Our seniors were wondering what this meant for them, would they graduate? “Will I ever see my friends?” asked a third-grade UA student. “It was like I was dreaming and could not wake up,” said a kindergarten teacher. 

No matter how experienced the teacher, the challenges were all new. How do we teach kindergarteners to learn to read remotely?  How do we teach high school students chemistry from home? How do we make sure our students are mentally healthy, without seeing them on a regular basis?  “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” ― R. Buckminster Fuller  

The staff and teachers at UT Tyler University Academy rallied to find ways to connect with their students and families. Our teachers developed creative ways to unite, engage and support students. They explored ways for students to engage socially and organized events to celebrate their successes. In addition, they supported parents and guardians and helped them learn to help their children. They embraced the challenges and found ways to ensure UA students continued to learn. 

The University Academy was fortunate to welcome students back in-person in August of 2020, although the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic continued. For the first time in the history of public schools, parents were offered waivers to have their children served remotely instead of in-person. We started the school year serving around 240 students remotely and 595 students in-person. This brought on additional challenges as teachers prepared to welcome students back, while also continuing to engage students remotely. 

While other districts across the state decided to discontinue to serve students remotely, UA continued to support those students and families who chose for their children to remain off-campus. “No matter if the child is coming to school or sitting at home, they’re still my student and they matter,” stated an eighth-grade teacher. Although several students have transitioned back to in-person learning, UA Teachers continued to serve around 180 students remotely as of December.

Although the transition has been difficult and we still face challenges, we have grown through the hardships. Our internal relationships are stronger. We value our in-person time and take opportunities to reach out, connect and support each other. Our students have developed a new view of learning and have come to see education as a privilege. 

Our relationship with our community of parents has grown, as countless hours have been spent mentoring and assisting them as they continue to navigate through changes to support their children. Our school culture has become even more technology literate, pioneering remote learning strategies. As in the business world, zooming and connecting remotely is common today; it is our new way of connecting, meeting and teaching. 

Although we will always prefer to see our students in-person, we know that many of our families are in situations where remote learning is the only option; therefore, we are committed to serving all our students and look forward to the day where we will all be together again, celebrating learning and continuing to grow.  

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