Melissa Ali 10/07/2020
Description
Melissa Ali is the magnet coordinator, English language development coordinator, Title I coordinator, trauma informed coordinator, and student empowerment coach at an elementary school in Los Angeles, California. She shares how the ups and downs of managing all her coordinator duties were quite a challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic and addresses the intersection between the pandemic and the killing of George Floyd. Being a part of a diverse community, inclusive activities were promoted to address the students’ concerns, fears, well-being and self-care. Melissa notes how the sudden shut-down was disruptive and difficult for the students, but thanks the teachers’ passion to their vocation, commitment to their scholars and their indispensable support and guidance was and continues to be of crucial importance. Writing poetry for her was one of the escapes from the pandemic. She explains how poetry relieved her anxiety and how thankful and grateful she was to be part of the teacher-poets community.
| Date(s) | 10/7/2020 |
| Call Number | CTP_011 |
| Subjects | Online education, Teaching at home, Inequity, anti-Blackness, Diversity, Black Lives Matter African American women teachers, Black lives matter movement, COVID-19 (Disease)--Social aspects, COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-), Elementary school teachers, Interviews, Poetry, Poets, School management and organization, Teachers |
| Interviewee(s) | Melissa Ali |
| Interviewer(s) | Sarah Donovan |