Dear Colby,
On Friday, March 13th, at 4:00 the Governor of the State of Utah announced that all K-12 schools would be immediately closed for two weeks in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 within our state. Governor Herbert also announced that online learning would continue beginning the following Wednesday, March 18th. This gave educators and districts a weekend and two working days to convert their curriculum so it could be delivered online, with Canvas chosen as the centralized location for all classes across our school district. Within a weekend, you had created clear, step-by-step instructions for our entire faculty to use to get started on Canvas. You made instructional videos, visited individual classrooms, and hosted workshops for all faculty members on various aspects of Canvas. I wanted you to know that this did not go unnoticed!
In a time of uncertainty and chaos, you became our "fourth administrator". You answered endless questions and provided individualized instruction to teachers with all different levels of technology expertise. This was especially difficult because you had your own online courses to develop, but instead, you spent time with other teachers so that their students could have meaningful online instruction as well. You were a calming and supportive member of our faculty when you were most needed. Colby Hawkins, you're a rockstar!
Thank You (You're the Best!),
Carina Whiteside
