Cobb Executive Women to host program on the widening achievement gap fueled by COVID-19

education icon with silhouette of teach in front of class, holding a baton to a board.

Posted By: Larry Felton Johnson August 24, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic widened the already substantial achievement gap among students.

The Cobb Chamber’s Cobb Executive Women (CEW) is hosting a program at their September 9, 2022 luncheon to hear from two academic experts who will discuss those impacts, and explore possible solutions.

The CEW luncheon will feature Kennesaw State University professors Megan Adams and Dr. Sanjuana Rodriguez who will discuss post-pandemic literacy trends among students, and what the community can do to help.

According to the press release for the event:

Emerging research on the impacts of COVID-19 on literacy indicates widening achievement gaps. For all students, additional literacy interventions are needed during the school year and during the summer months. For students without adequate resources in the school, home, or community, these needs are exacerbated. Adams and Dr. Rodriguez will describe the work KSU is doing in schools and how the community can assist.

Adams and Rodriguez co-authored, along with Dr. Kate Zimmer, the book Culturally Relevant Teaching: Preparing Teachers to Include All Learners, published in 2017.

Attendees are asked to donate books for the Academy for Language and Literacy and can purchase directly from the book list at https://amzn.to/3PJrnLs.

To register by the September 6 deadline, visit https://bit.ly/3QUO54E. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Cobb Chamber and is sponsored by Yearlong Presenting Sponsor, Northside Hospital, and Program Sponsor, Gas South. Lunch will be provided by Copeland’s of New Orleans.

For more information about Cobb Executive Women, contact Rebecca Chadwick at rchadwick@cobbchamber.org.

About the Cobb Chamber

The Cobb Chamber, incorporated with the state as the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business organization in the county.

The President and CEO of the Cobb Chamber is Sharon Mason, the Chief Operating Officer is Dana Johnson, and the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors is Britt Fleck.

Projects of the Cobb Chamber include Cobb Executive Women, Cobb Young Professionals, and the Area Councils: Cumberland, East Cobb, Marietta, Northwest Cobb (Acworth, Kennesaw, West Cobb), Smyrna and South Cobb.

On its website the Cobb Chamber promotes itself as follows:

As one of the most influential business advocacy organizations in Georgia and one of the top three chambers in the nation, the Cobb Chamber is dedicated to bringing the community and its leaders together to create jobs and strengthen the economy and quality of life so businesses and the community can achieve more.

Who We Are: We are a community of businesses working together to advance a vibrant economy.

Why We Do It: When businesses thrive, communities flourish.

What We Do (Our Mission): Together, with diverse partnerships, we:

​

  • Attract, recruit and retain jobs.
  • Help companies start, grow and prosper.
  • Advocate and collaborate to enhance our state’s business climate.
  • Connect members to opportunities, new networks, and resources.
  • Develop workforce and support education.
  • Cultivate current and future leaders.