by Dr. Desiree Cremer
During the pandemic when most schools were in distance learning, I talked with Dr. Erin Thompson for my podcast, What Stirs, Thompson shared her thoughts and principles on the pandemic and education.
When asked how she was coping during the pandemic, she responded with gratitude towards the health care workers on the frontlines and expressed immense sadness for the many lives lost to COVID. She stated that the pandemic has impacted “how we treat each other, there seems to be so much tension, and most of it rooted in fear, fear of the disease, fear of the unknown, fear of conspiracies and fear of changes on how we work, and how we live.”
She shared when shifting to distance learning, she had to learn new skills, and transitioning to a new platform at first seemed daunting but then embraced it. The pandemic revealed and highlighted the “digital inequities for some students. Dr. Thompson believes in the community college model, meeting students where they are and providing open access to education.
I am impressed with her positive attitude and the belief that this pandemic is an opportunity for growth. She lives her life by her guiding principles. One of the principles I find relevant during these contentious and challenging times is “common sense over politics.”
Cooking Choreographer 
What a wonderful conversation, Des and Erin! Erin, I agree with you that the pandemic revealed even further the digital inequities in the lives of our most vulnerable students. I really hope that it is also an opportunity for all of us educators to grow and meet our students’ needs. I know that you and the Leeward CC’s team are doing a wonderful job with this. Love and aloha to my Leeward ohana!