COVID-19: Resources, Support, and Updates

Your union is working to protect you and keep you informed.

Missouri NEA’s top priority is the health and safety of our members, staff, and students we serve. The issues surrounding COVID-19 have changed and challenged our lives both personally and professionally, leaving the next several months posing ongoing uncertainty and fear with our members and those they hold dear. As the pandemic affects you, we are here to support you and provide ongoing communication and resources as we all work through this crisis. If you have specific questions or need general information, send your questions to coronavirus@mnea.org. 

Missouri NEA is coordinating bipartisan action at the state level to protect members, their families, and students:

  • Ensuring students, teachers and school personnel can count on their schools to receive full funding during extended closures.
  • Minimizing disruption for all staff by continuing pay and benefits.
  • Calling for employees of Missouri’s colleges and universities to continue to receive pay and benefits.
  • Waiving testing requirements in Missouri (Due in part to our efforts, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced this decision last night.)
  • Adjusting student-teacher requirements to allow them to complete their programs.
  • Working to pass legislation to allow maximum flexibility for local districts and colleges to address this crisis.

NEA is protecting our members, students, and families at the national level:

  • Fighting successfully for passage of The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, securing free COVID-19 testing, paid emergency sick leave, and food security initiatives both in and outside of schools.
  • Communicating with Congress and the U.S. Department of Education to secure greater flexibility for local districts to support students and educators.
  • Providing emergency food assistance to children and families.
  • Pushing for federal recovery funds to support local educators, families. and students.

The Latest

MNEA COVID-19 Updates:
A summary of Federal and Missouri Guidance on COVID-19 relief, response, and next steps.

NEA FAQs and Updates:
Keeping members apprised of the actions NEA is taking to help with the federal relief act and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resources and Updates:
Information from DESE and other miscellaneous sources.

Webinars & Online Training

What About You? Strategies for Supporting Educator Resilience and Trauma-Informed Self-Care
Watch Now > 
Learn strategies for supporting educator resilience and trauma-informed self-care with this webinar from NEA, the Center on Great Teachers & Leaders at the American Institute for Research, and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Teachers and principals across the country are surprising students, parents and their communities with innovative practices and thoughtful solutions to the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. In the face of this collective trauma, educators are standing up to the disruptions and navigating this new terrain. They are taking care of themselves and their families while maintaining connections with students and colleagues.    

Rights of Certificated Educators
(Passcode: MNEA4me2@) | Watch Now >
This presentation gives participants the opportunity to share their knowledge of legal rights, and to expand that knowledge. Topics covered include tenure rights, mandatory reporting duties, and ways to protect your employment. If you are an experienced educator, come share your knowledge and experiences with the group. Presenter: Missouri NEA Associate General Counsel Vincenzo Iuppa

Screencasting: Using Loom, Screencastify, Quick Time, Screencast-o-matic, Google Meet 
Watch Now >
Explore the many options to screen record a lesson or a how-to video while you are narrating. Learn screencasting techniques and best practices in this session. Compare features, learn how to use several screencasting programs, and make a video with your webcam image or without. 

Leveling up Google Slides for Seesaw and Google Classroom
Watch Now >
Google Slides is a tool that allows educators to share a variety of information with students in a dynamic fashion. In this course, participants will learn fundamental principles of information design that will empower them to make high-quality Google Slides presentations. Participants will then learn how to integrate Google Slides with Seesaw and Google Classroom for presenting information, giving directions, and creating templates for students to make their own presentations. (74 min)

IDEAs That Work
Highlighting Strategies and Practices in Providing Related Services to Enhance the Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities
Watch Now >
This webinar was the second in the series and focused on the provision of related services through remote and distance methods to address the critical, ongoing needs of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 era. This webinar included representatives from several related service national organizations, OSEP Centers, and university partners.

IDEAs That Work
Highlighting Resources for Teachers and Parents to Enhance the Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities
Watch Now >
This webinar was the first in the series and was designed to highlight products developed by our funded investments to support teachers, providers, and parents in their efforts to provide services and supports to children with disabilities. The link to the archived webinar can be found below, we will be providing the PowerPoint, as well as additional information from the centers that were highlighted.

Using Videos in Your Lesson
Slide Deck | Watch Now >
Videos are a great way to connect with your students. Learn how to create and share videos using QuickTime. Explore ways to link videos that other people have created in your online space.

Differentiating & Team Teaching: Distance Learning Edition
Watch Now >
Tools like Seesaw, Flipgrid and Google Classroom are beloved by educators across the nation, and can be utilized to serve our students with direct, targeted assignments via enrollment in multiple classes or with the use of co-teachers. Entire grade levels may benefit from a shared space, and special area teachers and support staff can be linked to their students more easily. Get some strategies for possibilities of maintaining multiple groups of students in classes, and including co-teachers - or getting yourself included in pre-existing ones.

Rights of Education Support Professionals
Watch Now >
Topics covered include tenure rights, mandatory reporting duties, and ways to protect your employment, and other topics brought up by participants. Learn the legal landscape of your chosen profession. Presenter: Missouri NEA Associate General Counsel Vincenzo Iuppa

Providing Accommodations and Scaffolds
Slide Deck | Template (DO NOT CHANGE) | Watch Now >
How do you support students with IEPs, language learners, and older students with developing literacy skills in a distance learning environment? Learn strategies for providing accommodations, scaffolds, SIOP features, and elements of explicit instruction in an asynchronous setting that support all students. This webinar will begin with a survey and the webinar will be tailored based on participants needs. (58 min)

Differentiation Domination with Google Forms 
Watch Now >
Join us in exploring the amazing differentiation capabilities of Google Forms. This strategy can be used anywhere regardless of the learning environment (in-person or remote), grade level of student, or content being addressed. Picture a choose your own adventure based on your curriculum. (71 minutes)

Building Routines for Student Success in Virtual Space
Watch Now >
How can physical classroom routines (submitting work and getting help) be transformed for effective use in virtual spaces? This webinar discusses how to teach upper elementary/middle/high school students necessary skills to confidently navigate virtual learning communities and also help students transition to virtual/remote learning that seems familiar to face-to-face instruction. Some tips may also be helpful to elementary educators. (52 minutes)

ESPs and the COVID Crisis:
The Next Response
Watch Now >  
While we grapple with the current crisis, we need to think about what's next. What will the school year look like this fall? What can we do now to prepare as the crisis continues? Join us as we share strategies through legislative action, member advocacy, organizing, and professional development so we can ensure ESPs are there next year to help schools re-open. 

Planning for a Week of Distance Learning
Watch Now >
Explore a few examples of what distance education might "look" like in K-12 classrooms from EdTech experts. We will also explore the transition thinking required that best supports student engagement and (hopefully) success.

Facilitating Quality Practice
Watch Now >
Quality practice looks, sounds and feels different virtually. Let's practice with tools that teachers and paraeducators can use with students. We will learn about best practices for online learning, including instructor presence, learning objectives, real world applications, clear expectations, engaging students, prompt feedback, and netiquette. We will focus on two platforms: Seesaw and Google Classroom.

SEL in a Virtual Space
Slide Deck | Watch Now >
How can you create meaningful relationships with and between middle/high school students in a safe virtual space? This webinar seeks to answer this question with *already tried it* practices. Learn about different strategies, exercises, and activities that put SEL at the forefront in an intentional and transparent way.

Touching all the Bases with Google Slides
Watch Now >
Join us in exploring the inclusive and engaging world of Google Slides. Learn multiple ways to use Google Slides to differentiate, increase engagement, and encourage collaboration. These strategies can be used anywhere regardless of the learning environment (in-person or remote), grade level of student, or content being addressed. (64 min)

What About Your Students? Supporting Student Well-Being and Resilience with Trauma-Informed Care
Watch Now >              
Tools and resources shared on the webinar include:

CARES Act: Relief for Student Loan Borrowers
Watch Now >
CARES Act FAQ: Student Loan Provisions  
Educators have been burdened by student debt for far too long, and the COVID-19 pandemic risks making that debt even more burdensome. Congress enacted the CARES Act, a COVID-19 relief law, that includes big changes to federal student loans starting April 10, 2020.
These changes include a suspension of interest and payments for borrowers who have federal student loans from April 10, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2020.             
Presenter: NEA Government Relations and Office of General Counsel

Special Education Resources

NEA Supports a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all 7 million students with disabilities (SWDs) during the COVID-19 Crisis

  • School districts must guarantee a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) by providing essential and equitable services to students with disabilities(SWDs) who have an Individual Education Program (IEP)
  • Congress, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) must support targeted, specific, time-limited flexibility to address issues related to Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), and any flexibility should be time-limited to the current pandemic and have the agreement of parent/guardian
  • The NEA has always believed the multidisciplinary school-based IEP team along with the parent/guardian are in the best position to make all social, emotional, and academic development decisions for SWDs. They are also the decision-makers who should lead the conversations, upon the resumption of normal operations, on the need for any possible compensatory services and/or extended school year services

NEA: Policy Principles related to IDEA and COVID-19
NEA: All Hands on Deck--Guidance Regarding Reopening School Buildings
NEA: Checklist for Safely and Equitably Reopening Schools and Campus Buildings--Three Key Requirements for the Safe Return to In-Person Learning
NASN: COVID-19 Resources Form 

IDEAs That Work
Highlighting Strategies and Practices in Providing Related Services to Enhance the Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities
Watch Now >

This webinar was the second in the series and focused on the provision of related services through remote and distance methods to address the critical, ongoing needs of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 era. This webinar included representatives from several related service national organizations, OSEP Centers, and university partners.

IDEAs That Work
Highlighting Resources for Teachers and Parents to Enhance the Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities
Watch Now >

This webinar was the first in the series and was designed to highlight products developed by our funded investments to support teachers, providers, and parents in their efforts to provide services and supports to children with disabilities. The link to the archived webinar can be found below, we will be providing the PowerPoint, as well as additional information from the centers that were highlighted.

Edutopia: Apps for students with special needs help bridge the divide during school closures 

DESE: Office of Special Education Compliance COVID-19 Related School Reopening and Distance Learning Questions and Answer Guide (7/30/20)
USDOE: Q & A for providing services to special needs students during COVD-19 School Closures (4/1/20)
DESE: IEP Implementation Plan Form  (4/1/20)
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education advises school districts to document services to special education students so that they can demonstrate a good faith effort to provide services during the school shut down. To that end, DESE developed a form to ease the documentation and Missouri NEA made it fillable for teachers to document services to students with an IEP or 504 plan. Please send feedback on the form to Ann.Jarrett@mnea.org.

Practice Prevention and Links to the Experts

Schools and Coronavirus: What You Should Know

Nation Association of School Nurses

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

World Health Organization

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services

United States Department of Labor - OSHA