For this video project, Julie Browning was profiled as the subject. Julie is an Assistant Principal at Benjamin Jepson School a Pre-K- 8 school, in New Haven, Connecticut. She has been an educator in the New Haven School System for 34 years. Beginning as an elementary teacher and eventually becoming a math coach at Davis Street School. In 2012, Julie was promoted to the position at Jepson. She works with the Board of Education, administrators, faculty, parents, and students to help foster a healthy learning environment.

Although a typical day would consist of her going to meetings, organizing events, and checking in on classrooms throughout the day, her life (as well as many others) has changed drastically. She now works from home due to COVID-19. Her school is staying connected through Google Classroom and meetings are held over Zoom. Unfortunately, her days now consist of working from a desk and laptop, like many. Regardless, she is making the best out of the situation by planning small acts of kindness. Julie ensures that each student receive a special birthday message through the school. She also orchestrates video messages from faculty to students (reading books aloud/ checking in). For Teacher Appreciation Week she is making a time-lapse video as she creates a poster to the faculty in her building.

Here is a short look at how Julie has been working in a home environment.

The Day of an Administrator: At-Home Edition from Erynne on Vimeo.

Tasked with ensuring that these students are continuing to grow and learn, she is helping to cater to individual needs and different familial situations that the students face. Ultimately, she hopes that schools will be able to open once Fall arrives. Nothing comes close to the interpersonal relationships and classroom dynamics that are felt when attending school in-person, especially at such formative stages such as elementary and middle school.