Schools Across Michigan Prepare to Go Back to In-Person Instruction

Earlier this month Gov. Gretchen Whitmer publicly encouraged Michigan schools to offer all K-12 students the option of returning to classrooms by March 1. Though it wasn’t an official order, the guidance issued by Whitmer was nevertheless a powerful glimmer of one aspect of life, for kids and parents, possibly returning to some kind of normal in the foreseeable future.

“I think this pandemic has shown just how important schools are. But… we want children and teachers back safely… We need to get teachers vaccinated immediately.” – Dr. Elizabeth Moje, University of Michigan School of Education

But the ways individual school districts take this guidance will vary drastically, depending on what’s best for their specific communities and student populations.

Listen: University of Michigan School of Education Dean Dr. Elizabeth Moje discusses the expected return of in-person instruction for many students, teachers, and parents

Guest 

Jake Neher/WDET

Dr. Elizabeth Moje is the dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Education. She says that in order to facilitate a return to in-person instruction, it’s critical to vaccinate more teachers.

“We all want children back in school,” says Moje. “I think this pandemic has shown just how important schools are. “But… we want children and teachers back safely… We need to get teachers vaccinated immediately.”

Moje says many teachers are in the dark about when they’ll be able to get vaccinated.

“I’m hearing from teachers across Southeast Michigan that some have gotten first dose and others haven’t heard a thing,” she says.

“We need funding to make school places safe.”