By Tara Fort
The 2020 school year brought challenges unlike any other, and the Prescott Unified School District was ahead of the curve. This year, in its mission toward quality education, PUSD created the position of Health and Safety Coordinator, and local resident Alexa Scholl has been selected to fill that role. Says Scholl, “The Health and Safety Coordinator will be responsible for issuing the implementation of COVID-19 protocols in PUSD schools, including protocols for physical distancing and hygiene such as hand washing, student health screenings, and face coverings.” Says PUSD Superintendent Joe Howard, “We were thrilled that Councilwoman Alexa Scholl had applied for the Health and Safety Director position, returning to her Alma Mater and community that she knows so well. Alexa’s organizational skills, passion for children, education and this community stood out clearly in the selection process. She will be using her great people skills to liaise between staff, families and the health department as she works through sensitive and concerning situations regarding staff and students that may have symptoms or fear of exposure.” Adds Scholl, “I hope that in this position I will be able to assure families, students and staff that PUSD is taking everyone’s health very seriously. My sole purpose is to help keep everyone in the District safe and healthy.”
A former Match Advisor with Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters, Scholl worked directly with families and children from disadvantaged backgrounds where she saw the effect of the pandemic on local families. Her service as Councilwoman for the City of Prescott, Scholl says, “… has exposed me to the regulatory piece of government and COVID-19. In December I will complete my Masters in Global Security, and I know my social work and local government background will be incredibly helpful.” To prepare for the evolving rollout of distance learning within the District, Scholl has been reading continually-released metrics by the Arizona Department of Health Services and Arizona Department of Education and adds, “These metrics will drive the decision to allow in-person instruction, along with the CDC and health department guidelines for reopening schools, self-quarantine and isolation, and best practices for avoiding transmission of the virus.”
A Prescott resident since she was two weeks old, Scholl comes from a long line of educators and the fit could not be more perfect. “I’m excited to be in a new position that will adapt and change as we continue to move through this pandemic, amid its fluidity. As we have all experienced in the last several months, there is a constant stream of new and changing information about COVID-19 and ways to prevent the virus from spreading. It will be important to understand and implement the most recent and scientifically-backed information in our schools.”
For more information about Alexa Scholl, and Prescott Unified School District, visit www.prescottschools.com.