How Today's Struggles Build the Schools of Tomorrow | Heidi Fliegelman | TEDxUniversityofDelaware - Video

It is no secret that COVID-19 significantly altered the world of education. Now nearly two years into the pandemic, the push to "return to normal" schooling situations rings louder than ever. In her speech, English and Theater educator, Heidi Fliegelman, unpacks why returning to normal is actually damaging to students. Armed with recent scholarly research, her own observations as both a pandemic-era student and hybrid teacher, and her students' advice to educators, Heidi suggests how schools can learn from the past two years in order to change for the better.

Heidi Fliegelman (she/her) is an 8th Grade English Language Arts Teacher in Delaware, and a theatrical teaching artist. A University of Delaware 2021 alum, her passions for arts integration and social justice activism inspire her current work and future aspirations.
Heidi Fliegelman is a 22 year-old educator and theatre artist, currently teaching English at George Read Middle School in Delaware. Originally from Pennsylvania, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Delaware in 2021 with a B.A. in English Education and a Minor in Theatre Studies. Having nearly half of her undergraduate career —and all of her student teaching— severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Heidi was inspired to further explore the concept of positive classroom connections, and how they can be genuinely fostered, no matter the environment. After being involved all around UD’s campus for the past four years, she is thrilled to be returning to speak as an alumni for this event! Heidi would like to thank her incredible students (virtual and in-person!) and fellow ELA teachers at AI duPont High School and George Read Middle School, the UDXEE faculty and 2021 cohort, and all of her other past educators for always being her guiding lights. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx