
02/17/2021
Bangor Educational Foundation Donates Resources to Support Online Learning
By Deanna Ruzanski / Executive Director
The Bangor Area School District Educational Foundation Inc.
BANGOR - 2020 was undoubtedly a year of change for most everyone – especially educators. Traditional in-person classroom instruction was challenged by the need for social distancing. Terms like “virtual,” “online,” “hybrid” and “distance learning” became common ways to describe education for most of 2020 and continued into 2021. Programs such as in-person speakers and demonstrations like the kind The Bangor Area School District Educational Foundation was used to funding were being rescheduled and then cancelled indefinitely.
In looking for a meaningful way to support the teachers and students during these unprecedented times, Marc Blau, former educator and Bangor Area School District Educational Foundation and Teacher Grant committee member surveyed a sampling of teachers to understand how The Foundation could help. He received a response indicating that resources may help, specifically books such as The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12: Teaching for Engagement and Impact in Any Setting and DON’T Ditch That Tech: Differentiated Instruction in a Digital World both full of practical strategies to help the virtual home instructors and the HS hybrid teachers.
With the approval of The Bangor Area School District School Board, The Foundation purchased 30 books in total - 3 of each book for the libraries of all 5 schools.
According to online resources, “The Distance Learning Playbook is the essential hands-on guide to preparing and delivering distance learning experiences that are truly effective and impactful” while Don’t Ditch That Tech, provides practical ideas to help find the sweet spot where classroom devices meet students’ needs and is said to be a teacher-tailored guide that includes tips on how to handle cart/lab scenarios, develop attention-grabbing strategies, and build metacognitive practices.
Upon communicating with each high school principal regarding the distribution of both resources, Dr. Sherry Holub, Middle School Principal thanked The Foundation and teacher grant committee and indicated that she was familiar with both books that DON’T Ditch That Tech: Differentiated Instruction in a Digital World would become a school-wide study next year.
The Bangor Area School District Educational Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that operates independently from the district and school board. Founded in the Spring of 1997, The Foundation’s mission is to support learning for the children and adults of the Bangor Area School District by funding activities and culturally enriching programs, community events, student scholarships, teacher grant projects and academic awards. The Foundation oversees the financial aspect of various scholarships that are presented to district students each year. The Foundation is also responsible for funding various enrichment experiences such as Cyndi the SynDaver, an outreach program presented in conjunction with the Da Vinci Science Center as well as teacher grant programs, all of which are made available through donor contributions and fundraising efforts of The Bangor Area School District Educational Foundation, Inc. Should you be interested in learning more, sponsoring a scholarship or making a general donation, please visit our website at basdef.org or contact Executive Director Deanna Ruzanski at [email protected]