(Menlo Park, CA, Monday, August 17, 2020) – Facebook announced the launch of an Educator Hub to support teachers and provide resources across its apps to help people navigate the new school year, stay connected and build community, and take care of themselves. Because of COVID-19, back-to-school season looks significantly different this year as teachers and students face a myriad of challenges—from navigating remote teaching and learning and hybrid teaching models to returning to the classroom amidst a global pandemic, while above all, working to protect the safety and well-being of all involved.

The Educator Hub is designed to help teachers find or build their online community and discover resources for the classroom and beyond.

• Educators play an important role in helping students understand the world around them and building an inclusive environment where all students feel respected. The Educator Hub includes information and guides from education organizations to help teachers have important conversations with students about racial inequities. Instagram is also sharing Anti-Racism Guides to help foster a more inclusive and respectful community and provide access to informative and inspiring content. The Anti-Racism Guides include information from experts like Child Mind Institute to help kids understand racial justice issues in the news, and The Conscious Kid to help parents and educators talk to young students about race.
• The Educator Hub also features Get Digital, a free digital literacy program, developed with experts, for teachers, students and parents. It includes lesson plans, conversation starters, activities, videos and other tools to help young people develop skills needed to navigate and thrive in today’s digital world. For educators, Get Digital provides ready-to-use lessons for teaching young people about digital citizenship and maintaining health and well-being while using technology. For students, there are various activities that reinforce and expand on the digital skills they’re learning in school and at home. And parents and caregivers can use this program to start conversations with kids about how to stay safe online.

When shelter in place took effect across the world, there was a surge of homeschooling Groups on Facebook. More than 2,000 new homeschooling Groups were created in March alone, 8x more than the month prior.  As many of us stay home this back-to-school season, we want to help keep everyone connected.

The Educator Hub will help connect teachers to other teachers and find support from communities online. Teacher can also get inspired and find help by following hashtags on Instagram like #teachersofinstagram, #teacherssupportteachers, #distancelearning, #teacherspayteachers and #teachergram.

The Educator Hub will help connect teachers to other teachers and find support from communities online. Teacher can also get inspired and find help by following hashtags on Instagram like #teachersofinstagram, #teacherssupportteachers, #distancelearning, #teacherspayteachers and #teachergram.
Additionally, Messenger has developed a series of digital guides and activities to help keep kids and their parents connected to their school communities using Messenger Kids and Messenger Rooms. You can learn more about these resources in the Messenger Newsroom and find additional information on Messenger Kids and Messenger Rooms.

During times of isolation and uncertainty, it’s important to be mindful of your mental health and well-being as well as your physical health. That’s why Facebook’s Educator Hub offers wellness resources from trusted partners and experts.

• Instagram is sharing mental health and anti-bullying Guides, offering access to positive wellness information to support people’s mental health and connectivity in the classroom and beyond.
• Pressure to be Perfect, developed in collaboration between the JED Foundation and Instagram, is a free online resource to support positive and intentional teen expression on Instagram.
• The Educator Hub also features resources to support teachers’ wellness from trusted experts like the Greater Good Science Center, CASEL and EverFi.

The Educator Hub can be found at www.education.fb.com. For more information on the announcement, please visit Facebook’s Newsroom here.