redefined . There is greater opportunity for serious discussions about what ‘ quality ’ is in education , how we adequately assess educational outcomes and to what do we compare strongly held assumptions that may or may not be valid in a post-pandemic world . An additional point of concern is the “ under connected ” or what some are calling “ the digital divide .” These are students who have limited access to digital learning and are often from lower-income families and areas with limited infrastructure . Research will be essential in determining best practices and next steps .
Fourth , the pre-pandemic financial models that built and maintained schools at every level are in the process of being reexamined . Keeping up with the rate and amount of change has been very difficult , yet encouraging experiences are emerging that may help stretch limited resources to serve more students effectively . Innovation in classroom delivery through digital media , outdoor classrooms and other venues may provide great learning experiences in cost-effective ways .
The tragedy of death and illness is devastating when it takes place in a school where close relationships are a hallmark of a positive school experience . We must encourage and celebrate the innovators across education that have kept our schools , academies and universities moving forward .
As we look ahead to the next decade , the COVID-19 pandemic will be remembered as a defining moment for all of us . Now we
must turn our attention to the ways in which we can continue to deliver quality education . Change can be difficult and , at times unwanted , but it can help to spur innovation and creativity to secure desired outcomes .
May this timeless reminder from Martin Luther King Jr . inspire us as we move forward : “ Education must enable a man to become more efficient , to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life .”
Education and advancement professionals at BrightDot are assisting an array of organizations as they move through the issues imposed by the pandemic . Many lessons are being learned daily as to what effective strategies work and when to implement . BrightDot stands ready to assist so that a given organizational mission can be accomplished !
Bill Crouch is CEO & Founder of BrightDot , a nonprofit consulting firm focusing on the fundraising needs of community colleges . Bill honed his fundraising skills as a development director at various colleges in the Southeast and then as President of Georgetown College for more than 22 years .
Dr . Michael V . Carter is an educator , author and academic executive , recently retiring after 22 years as President of Campbellsville University , where enrollment grew from 1,600 at the beginning of his presidency to 13,500 in 2020 . He now serves as an advisor to BrightDot .
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