East principal likens pandemic to the grieving process

YOUNGSTOWN — Jeremy Batchelor, principal of East High School, says going through the coronavirus pandemic has been somewhat like a grieving process — shock and disbelief, followed by denial, and then finally, acceptance.

"What really hit home was the acceptance that commencement and year-end celebrations for our seniors would not be able to be conducted in ways that we are used to doing them," said Batchelor, a Youngstown State University graduate. "The Class of 2020 became my focus and our focus."

That's when ingenuity, innovation, passion and enthusiasm rose to the forefront, he said.

East launched daily Senior Spotlights on social media.

Several staff members came up with an Adopt-a-Senior program.

Various media outlets helped the school spotlight seniors.

And in an effort to make commencement safe but also memorable, the three city high schools kept with tradition and came up with a way for graduates to still walk across the stage at Stambaugh Auditorium to get their diplomas.

"It's been a very different period in education," said Batchelor, who earned a master's degree and a doctorate in Educational Leadership at YSU. "I have made the comment to several colleagues that there is no class to prepare you to lead during a pandemic.

"However, I know that [YSU faculty members] like Dr. [Charles] Vergon, Dr. [Richard] Baringer, and the late great Dr. [Robert] Beebe, always prepared us to be prepared for anything.

"And those lessons have helped me lead through this difficult time."

This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 5:30 PM with the headline "East principal likens pandemic to the grieving process."