Taundra Pitchford, the Child Care Planning Council Coordinator at the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO), shared with me in an interview that SBCEO, not unlike other organizations within the Resilient Santa Barbara County ACEs Connection Network, remains open and operational amid the ever-evolving Coronavirus
Pitchford commented, when asked how her work has shifted since the outbreak of the virus, "While I was busy before, I have never worked so hard." Like most other organizations, SBCEO has shifted to virtual work from home. Pitchford shared how Santa Barbara County was helpful in ensuring that their employees who needed to shift to at home work had the necessary tools to do so effectively.
Pitchford went on to explain how the SBCEO initiative that once was a Preschool Director Support group shifted to become a "Director’s COVID Collaborative" group that meets weekly to discuss things like finding funding, unemployment strategies, navigating health and safety guidance, and the process of reopening child care. She shared that this collaborative group of leaders has been integral in maintaining open communication, building community, and remaining resilient amid COVID-19.
Pitchford shared with me that while it has been a major adjustment, she is enjoying working from home. The shift has offered her space to focus with fewer distractions, the luxury of no longer having to commute into an office, and the ability to spend more time with her family. She highlighted the shelter-in-place will have on the environment, noting that she has rarely had to fill her gas tank since the start of the quarantine.
Thank you, Taundra Pitchford, for your time and candor, and to everyone at SBCEO for the amazing work you are doing!
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