A first day of school like no other: SCS opens for everyone in virtual-only model
Zoe Bragg, 7, a second grader at Idlewild Elementary, takes part in a virtual recess with her classmate on the first day of school on Monday, August 31, 2020. Shelby County government has provided a virtual academy for county employees’ children inside the Vasco A. Smith Administration Building. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Peyton Sias, 6, a first grader at Highland Oaks Elementary, takes part in the first day of virtual school on Monday, August 31, 2020. Shelby County government has provided a virtual academy for county employees’ children inside the Vasco A. Smith Administration Building. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Former Shelby County Schools principal Kenneth Pinkney (middle) waves to Shelby County government employees’ children taking part in the first day of virtual school on Monday, August 31, 2020 inside the the Vasco A. Smith Administration Building. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
KIPP Memphis Collegiate High Spanish III teacher Sarah Kerst welcomes her students to the first day of virtual school from her empty classroom on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Shelby County Schools students remained at home as the COVID-19 pandemic kept students from in-class learning. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
KIPP Memphis Collegiate High Spanish III students log in to the first day of virtual school on Monday, August 31, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
An empty classroom at KIPP Memphis Collegiate High remains dark as students attend the first day of virtual school due to the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday, August 31, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
New Life Learning Academy volunteer Kirby Wesson (left) works with her son Kayden Nolen, 7, a second grader at Oak Forest Elementary, to get his teacher’s attention on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. The academy made space for the children of employees and siblings of younger children enrolled at the daycare, to provide a safe space for students attending the first day of school virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
New Life Learning Academy volunteer Brittany Anderson works with her six-year-old son Braylon Jeffries on his classwork on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Braylon is a first a grader at Germanshire Elementary. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Jason Butler, 6, a first grader at Memphis Delta Prep, attends New Life Learning Academy’s virtual class on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
New Life Learning Academy Director Kelli Willis (left) works with Mason Dunning, 7, a second grader at White Station Elementary on his classwork on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Homeschool teacher Brie Smith (right) works with Idlewild Elementary second grader Izabelle Chinniah, 7, (left) on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Homeschool teacher Brie Smith (middle) works with students Beck Whitaker, 7, (left) and Izabelle Chinnicah, 7, (right) on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
SCS Superintendent Joris Ray tours teacher Dorina Wilson and others' classrooms on the first day back to school at Winridge Elementary on Aug. 31, 2020. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)
SCS Superintendent Joris Ray tours on the first day back to school at Winridge Elementary with Principal Todd Shaffer on Aug. 31, 2020. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)
SCS Superintendent Joris Ray tours on the first day back to school at Winridge Elementary with Principal Todd Shaffer on Aug. 31, 2020. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)
An empty classroom on the first day back to school at Winridge Elementary on August 31, 2020. (Ziggy Mack, Special to The Daily Memphian)
After weeks of planning and device distributions, Shelby County Schools rings the bell for the first day of virtual school and will stay that way until further notice.
Topics
Shelby County Schools Shelby County School Board Superintendent Joris Ray coronavirus Collierville High School Collierville Schools Collierville Miska Clay Bibbs
Linda A. Moore
Linda A. Moore covers education, South Memphis and Whitehaven. A native of South Memphis, Linda has covered news in Memphis and Shelby County for more than 20 years and was formerly a reporter with The Commercial Appeal.
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