Olathe teacher creates COVID-19 tracking spreadsheet

An Olathe West teacher has taken the coronavirus pandemic head on by creating a public spreadsheet of outbreaks in schools across the nation.

COVERAGE OF THEMEETING TONIGHT AT TEN.ONE TEACHER IN OURREGION SAYS FAMILIESNEED TO KNOW ABOUTCONFIRMED CASES AMONGSTUDENT BODIES -- ANDSHE HAS AN ARMY OFDOZENS TO PROVE HOWIMPORTANT THIS IS."It just shows you the demandandthe craving for this kind ofinformation"ONLY ON 41 ACTION NEWS--REPORTER JORDANBETTS TALKED TO THEOLATHE DRAMA TEACHERHOPING TO KEEP FAMILIESSAFE-- WITH A ONLINESPREADSHEET.Alisha Morris, Olathe West HighSchool Teacher"It wasn't planned, it was justa way for me to havesomething to do that feltproductive."ALISHA MORRIS IS TAKINGON A NEW CHALLENGE INTHESE CHALLENGINGTIMESAlisha Morris, Olathe West HighSchool Teacher"I have been creating thisspreadsheet that is an effort totrack all the impacts ofCOVID-19 in K-12 buildings inthe United States."HERE'S THE THING.SHE'S NOT A DOCTOR ORHEALTH EXPERT...SHE'S ANOLATHE DRAMA TEACHER.Alisha Morris, Olathe West HighSchool Teacher"It started out of curiositybecause I kind of went lookingfor that information and Icouldn't find it compliedanywhere."THIS IS THESPREADSHEET.EVERY SCHOOL THAT ISLISTED COMES FROM ANEWS ARTICLE THATMORRIS FACT CHECKS.IF SHE FINDS ITCREDITABLE, IT'S ENTEREDWITH THE DISTRICTLOCATION, NUMBER OFPOSITIVE CASES ANDWHERE THE INFORMATIONCAME FROM.WHAT ONCE STARTED AS APERSONAL DATABASE ISGROWING INTO ANATION-WIDE SOURCE.Alisha Morris, Olathe West HighSchool Teacher"I probably got at least 800schools listed."Jordan Betts, 41 Action NewsReporter"Morris is starting to gethundreds of articles sent toher a day.

So, to make thingsgo faster she has 40volunteers from coast to coastentering in data."Danett Williams, Volunteering toenter school Coronavirus dataSThese kids are being putin danger everyday and herein America.DANETT WILLIAMS IS ONEOF THOSE VOLUNTEERS.SHE'S A SCHOOLPSYCHOLOGIST IN THESAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.SHE"S SOMETIMES UPUNTIL 1 A-M ENTERINGDATA, WHICH SHE SAYS ISEMOTIONAL BUT HAS TO BEDONE.Danett Williams, Volunteering toenter school Coronavirus dataSSchool Administratorsneed to know.

Parents andschool boards need to knowthat people are being inflectedat school.ANYONE CAN VIEW THISDOCUMENT AND THEOLATHE TEACHER SAYSPEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLYREADING IT.SHE'S GLAD IT'S GETTINGATTENTION BECAUSE SHESAYS AT THE END OF THEDAY.EVERYONE NEEDSTO KNOW WHAT"SHAPPENING.SMy goal is to help thosedistricts leaders make a moreinformed decision withouthaving to do as muchresearch as I had to do.JORDAN BETTS 41 ACTIONNEWSWE HAVE RESOURCES TOHELP YOUR FAMILYPREPARE FOR THERETURN TO SCHOOL -- INCLASS OR VIRTUALLY.BE SURE TO CHECK OUTOUR "SAFELY BACK TOSCHOOL" SECTION AT K-S-H-B DOT COM SLASHREBOUND.WE'RE ALSO UPDATINGAREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS'REOPENING PLANS ONTHAT SAME PAGE.