Columbia Public Schools have been back for in-person learning for a month.
It’s also been Superintendent Brian Yearwood’s first month into the school year as CPS superintendent – he stepped into that role in July.
KBIA's Xcaret Nuñez recently caught up with Brian Yearwood to discuss his plans for Columbia schools, and also the challenges right now, including a serious national shortage of bus drivers.
Read the extended version of the interview below.
XCARET NUÑEZ
I've been thinking a lot about this – I can't imagine what it must be like to lead an entire school district through an in-seat school year amid a pandemic, what has that been like for you?
BRIAN YEARWOOD
It has had some challenges. You know, we are just coming off a virtual environment, the pandemic is still among us. So we are very cautious about the safety of our scholars, our staff members, and making sure that our mitigation strategies are doing what they're supposed to do in terms of ensuring the safety of all. And so far, so good. So far, we have seen that our scholars are remaining in-seat and that we are not having to close schools or anything like that like we've done before in the past year. That's ensuring that all scholars are in-seat with us throughout the school year in a safe manner, and learning to make sure those mitigation strategies are being monitored very closely and are working.
NUÑEZ
How are you personally feeling?
YEARWOOD
For me, there's a feeling of apprehension, because it's important to me that every scholar, every staff member is safe. That is of utmost importance. I'm being very vigilant, and I'm ensuring that everything has been done to promote that level of safety. I'm very confident in our staff members, cabinet team, in our leadership, principals and teachers. I'm very confident that they will ensure that our scholars remain safe. So that does give me a sense of ease – Knowing of the commitment and the dedication of our staff, to ensure the safety of our scholars.
NUÑEZ
When you were first stepped into your role, you mentioned that you look forward to getting to know CPS students, their families, teachers and staff – What have those conversations been like? And what have you learned from them?
YEARWOOD
I've learned of the tremendous dedication of our staff. I've visited most of our schools and spoken with teachers, I’ve spoken with parents as I've come across them, and so on. What I'm seeing is a level of comfort with our school, amid the pandemic. I have seen and heard from teachers who are happy, teachers who are truly committed to doing the work of teaching and enjoying our scholars, who are learning within the schools. So again, I've learned that we have very uplifting staff members and a truly committed group of teachers and campus leaders among our schools. This is not something I hear about, this is what I've seen with my own eyes from visiting multiple schools throughout the district.
NUÑEZ
It seems that what you're saying is that teachers and students are happy to be back in person.
YEARWOOD
Yes, that is exactly what I'm seeing. The scholars are happy to be interacting with each other, I see lots of smiling faces. I went to a Pre-K center. I stood around and I watched the interactions. Scholars were wearing their masks and interacting and just having a great time in the learning environment. And that's what it's all about. It’s about continuing that same level of comfort and motivation in all our schools.
NUÑEZ
Just to shift a little bit – With recent divisions in our culture, about everything from mask mandates, to how to teach race and history in our schools – educators and school districts are being targeted by politicians. How does that impact your community of educators? And how can we talk about these things productively?
YEARWOOD
These sorts of discussions have been around for quite some time. I'll talk for me as a superintendent – Our vision of a school district is actually to be the best in the state. What does that mean? That means we must not take our eyes off the prize. And the prize is that our scholars are number one in everything we do. In our education, in our interactions, in our discussions. So by putting our scholars as our number one priority, we focus on their well being we focus on ensuring that we are doing our literacy, math, social studies, our sciences very well. Because as a school district, we are not in politics. We are in the most critical craft that we can be in. Besides being a doctor or heart surgeon, or a brain surgeon, we are in the business of cultivating lives. In such a manner that we develop lifelong learners, we develop scholars in such a way that they are able to take their place in society and, and do wonderful things. We're not in politics.
NUÑEZ
It seems that you're saying that education is not an issue about politics – that instead, it’s about setting the foundation for children's education for their future.
YEARWOOD
That's what brought me to Columbia. When I interviewed and I read about the school and did my studies. That's a high priority in the district. You will only be a five-year-old once. You'll only be a senior once. Let's make that the best experience possible for all scholars so that they can take their places, they can thrive and move forward and go to college or become a concert pianist or become a master electrician. That’s where our focus needs to be. Not in politics.
NUÑEZ
On the first day of school, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt issued that lawsuit against CPS and similar school districts for its mask mandate. That is something many parents thanked the school board for at the last school board meeting. Some parents also disagree with it. What was your reaction to the lawsuit? And what's your way forward?
YEARWOOD
Once litigation is over, I'm sure I'll have more to say but right now, unfortunately, after seeking legal counsel, I'm just not allowed to comment at this point in time. But once things are settled, I'll be glad to talk more.
NUÑEZ
Just to shift a little bit – Bus staffing shortages, that’s something many school districts across the nation are hurting from. Many cite the pay rate and the amount of time it takes to get certified for their Commercial Driving License. Those are some of the major difficulties some school transportation systems are facing when recruiting and retaining drivers. What are you doing to address this issue?
YEARWOOD
Meeting daily, brainstorming, looking at every possibility. We've reached out to the National Guard and they were gracious and will begin the process of allowing some of their reservists to help us with our bus situation – those that have their CDL. We are looking at every opportunity we can because we are in a very precarious situation, and we do not have enough bus drivers. So any and everything is on the table because we must bring scholars to school. We can't leave scholars at home because of not being able to get a ride. We have teachers that have stepped up and are helping to bring scholars to school, we have administrators that are doing the same. So right now, we're just asking for bus drivers. For those out there who can drive a bus, who can get a CDL, who may have a CDL. Please come help us. We need help.
NUÑEZ
You mentioned you reached out to the National Guard. I know that's something other states are doing as well. Have you heard anything on the matter?
YEARWOOD
I've heard states like Massachusetts have done that. They're further along in that process. So we are continuing to ask and see what else we can do. We're also asking others as well. There are other organizations that have buses and we're reaching out to them to see what help we can get. We're trying to leave no stone unturned. We're looking at every possible avenue to try to get bus drivers in.
NUÑEZ
I remember at the school board meeting you mentioned, you might even drive the bus yourself.
YEARWOOD
If I have to, absolutely have no problem with that. I'll go get my CDL if I have to. Because, you know, to leave a scholar at home without the possibility of an education. I'm sorry, that should not be happening. That hurts me. That hurts my heart to know that there's a scholar out there that may be missing an educational opportunity because of a lack of transportation. And we have to get that right. We have to.
NUÑEZ
Are there any incentives for people to apply to become a bus driver?
YEARWOOD
Right now we are looking at monetary incentives, we are looking at their pay, doing a pay raise. We're looking at paying for training for renewing the CDL, we're looking at trying to actually pay for that. But right now, yes, we are talking about and we are pushing some of these initiatives and putting them in place actually.
NUÑEZ
Do you know an estimate of how many bus drivers you might need right now?
YEARWOOD
Last time I checked, we were in the 20s that we were needing. But of course, with hiring, it may be a bit less. I know that the company that runs the buses, the private company, they are also doing their best to bring in bus drivers as well.
NUÑEZ
Shifting gears – There's also been a nationwide shortage of supply chain food. It's really impacting schools, including CPS, what's being done about this in your school’s cafeterias?
YEARWOOD
We have not experienced such a large shortage because I think of the planning that we've been doing, preparing for this. Some schools have more that we would be able to utilize their supplies to help those that may not have enough. But so far, so good. We are not in dire straits there and every scholar is being fed. There are no scholars that are hungry, in our schools. I'm very proud of that.
NUÑEZ
Switching over a little bit to the mask mandate – what factors go into revising whether or not the school district will continue its mask mandate?
YEARWOOD
I would love to answer the question, but anything with the mask mandate, I just cannot because of litigation and receiving counsel from our attorneys. But I promise you out, I'll come back once that litigation is complete.
NUÑEZ
Well, let me ask you just a little bit about your background. What inspired you to go into this administrative field?
YEARWOOD
The administrative field was one that I would say came to me. I wanted to be a teacher and I became a teacher and I loved it. One day, I received a call from my superintendent, and he said, “You will now be an administrator.” That was my first launch into it. I thought I'd be a lifelong teacher. After the superintendent explained the situation and where I was needed, I took the challenge on and had great experiences. I embraced it. You know, I think it had a lot to do with my work ethic. I believe hard work pays off in all that you do and also enjoying what you're doing. Being able to laugh and to really take things in stride, but to work hard at it. As a result of that, I am here today because of that hard work. I always believe that the workplace should be one where there's happiness, where people are looking forward to coming to work, not saying, “I dread going to work.” That's important to me. So I think those ingredients are what have contributed to me landing here today in such a great school district as Columbia Public Schools.
NUÑEZ
What does your personal story bring to the way you run the school district?
YEARWOOD
I believe that everyone must be able to put scholars as a number one priority, I go back to when I was a teacher. For me, the word scholar came about because of seeing or interacting with students, who others perhaps did not necessarily see as a scholar. Sometimes students would be put into my classroom because other teachers were not able to reach them. I was able to reach them because I discovered very quickly every scholar wanted to be loved, respected and wanted to be given an opportunity. You just have to understand how to unlock that level of understanding and that level of academia within. That has always been my priority. To see the good, look for the good, and to help others achieve in areas that they themselves may not even think they're capable of achieving in.
So with education, the scholars in my past would tell you, I took that very, very seriously. I did everything in my power to ensure that our scholars had the best experiences possible. My most memorable time when I was a principal at an elementary school, was receiving multiple calls from parents, from different families saying, “Dr. Yearwood, my child is getting up before me, getting dressed, waking me up and saying, ‘I've got to go to school, I can't miss school.’” That was music to my ears. When I transferred out, I was moved into the secondary realm. The same thing happened. I'll never forget the young man that had some discipline issues. We had a visit from an assistant superintendent. The assistant superintendent told me this, he said, the young man saw him, came up to him, shook his hand, and told him that, “Dr. Yearwood does not play around with our education. He is dead serious about us getting an education.” I'll be honest with you, I did not know about this until the assistant superintendent came by and told me. And [the youngman] was right, I knew that I carried the message, but I wasn't sure how it was going to be internalized. And to hear this young man, Leo, who had some difficulty, discipline-wise, say that to [the assistant superintendent] - it was music to my ears. So, for me, taking education seriously, leaving no stone unturned.
Lastly, I'll end with this. Ensuring that our staff members have what they need to be successful. Making sure that our staff members are treated with dignity, ensuring that our parents are also treated with dignity and communicated with. All of these are ingredients that I've always followed and will continue to follow. Because educating a child does require a high level of collaboration with parents, it does require making that scholar feel, “This is your place. You are welcome here. This is your Home. You can learn and grow here.” All of those go into what I see, have helped me lead an organization. And it's helped me here in Columbia as well.
NUÑEZ
It's been a little bit over a month since the school year started, what's something you've noticed that you'd like to help CPS improve on?
YEARWOOD
Looking at our overall data with our assessments, that's an area that we definitely need to work on. Because I think, during the pandemic, being virtual worked for some, but did not work for all. And it's about education for all. So now, we have to make sure that we accelerate our instructional practices so that the scholars that perhaps did not do so well in the virtual environment. That they actually have what they need to be successful. So those are some areas that we're looking at and have done continuous planning on to ensure that all scholars have an opportunity to be successful.
NUÑEZ
My last question – As the new leader of the school district, what are you looking forward to the most this school year? What are your aspirations for the school year?
YEARWOOD
First, to maintain in-seat instruction. To also maintain a high quality of instruction in our classroom environments. To ensure sure that our scholars stay motivated. To ensure that our staff members and scholars stay safe. These are pieces that are important to me.
Also looking at literacy. I am very passionate about a strong literacy background for all scholars. We are looking to start with our pre-K through two programs to ensure that our scholars are reading and that the printed material is being mastered by every scholar.
My dream is that by the time a scholar gets to third grade that they're reading at or above grade level so that the rest of their academic career would be maneuvered through with a greater level of ease.
When a scholar is not literate or is deficient in literacy, the academic environment becomes a struggle, and I do not want to be a contributing part of that. So looking at strengthening our pre-K through two literacy programs, we've done a great job. We have literacy coordinators that are magnificent. We have teachers that have done a magnificent job. I just want to continue that support to ensure more of our scholars are reading on grade level.
NUÑEZ
Well, thank you so much, Dr. Yearwood. I really appreciate the time you took to speak with me today.
YEARWOOD
You're very welcome at any time. Thank you.
