ACTION PLAN 2
Action Plan: The Impact of Covid-19 on the Academic Achievement of Student-Athletes
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the education system greatly. The impact of the
pandemic on students, was seen not only in the classroom but, in their extracurricular activities
along with their mental health (Fisher et al., 2022; Mozammel et al., 2021). The school where I
presently work started in 2021 right after the major portion of the pandemic. The challenges
faced by administration, was the students’ mental health, academic performance, gaps in
education and overall well-being. The issues faced by my school (Evergreen Christian School)
were the same seen around the country. In an article by Ashta et al. (2023), it is discussed how
difficult and impactful the sudden switch to online and remote learning was for students. Ashta et
al. (2023) also discussed all the additional mental stressors that plagued the students post
pandemic.
This has become an issue today because students are not only behind academically but,
also in social emotional growth (Ashta et al., 2023; Herrting et al., 2023). Student-athletes have
always had to deal with stressors as a dual career students (Brecht et al., 2019). With the addition
of the pandemic, the stressors of student-athletes exacerbated, and their academic performance
declined (Ashta et al., 2023; Mozammel et al., 2021). Also, student-athletes were reported to
have low self-motivation, self-efficacy, and determination due to the pandemic (Hornstra et al.,
2022; Mozammel et al., 2021). These issues have presented themselves in my school and schools
throughout our district.
Currently, at Evergreen Christian, there have been several changes implemented to
address these specific issues. First off, I was hired as school counselor. The school did not have a
school counselor on staff, and this impacted not only student-athlete performance but, student
performance overall. Evergreen Christian was started a year after the Covid -19 pandemic.
ACTION PLAN 3
Current strategies to address the impact of Covid -19 on student-athlete academic performance
include but are not limited to, implementation of mental health counselors, academic support
specialists, extra tutoring for students (Ashta et al., 2023; Fisher et al., 2022; Mozammel et al.,
2021).
Action Plan
Based on the prevalence of low self-efficacy, motivation and overall well-being of
students and student-athletes displayed at Evergreen Christian School, I am proposing the
implementation of a full-time school counselor along with a full advisory curriculum devoted to
improving the well-being and social emotional growth of students. As seen in research, when
students have an improved sense of self-efficacy and mental health, they will perform better
academically (Fisher et al., 2021; Hornstra et al., 2022).
Timeline Action Step Individuals or
Groups
Responsible
Cost
7/15/2024
-
8/15/2024
The school administration and board will
implement full time school counseling for
the 2024-2025 school year.
-The ECS Board
- The Principal
- The Head of
School
Salary
increase for
School
counselor
$70,000+
8/16/24-
9/16/24
Once decision is made on Full time
counselor:
- a full comprehensive counseling program
is to be developed and implemented.
-Professional development for teachers/staff
to follow for full implementation of program
-Materials to create:
ECS Comprehensive Counseling Program
handbook
Full year advisory guide for students
Full year advisory curriculum specific to
student-athletes
PD for all teachers and staff for advisory
-Full Time full
counselor
- Learning Center
team
- HS Principal
$1,500-
$2,000 to =
PD speaker,
materials and
professional
development
creation
ACTION PLAN 4
program implementation
9/17/24-
10/17/24
- Set up of all advisory groups and
assignment of teachers and staff
- First advisory group to meet by 10/15/24
-make all copies of needed handouts for
each advisory group
- debriefing to take place after 10/17/24 to
see what was done well and what needs to
improve for next advisory in November
2024
- Principal
- School
Counselor
- Learning
Center
team
N/A
10/18/24-
12/15/24
- Establish spring advisory plan for all
students
-Prepare new groups as needed for advisory
- Refer students for individual support as
needed based on advisory groups
- Principal
- School
Counselor
N/A
ACTION PLAN 5
References
Ashta, J. K., Weingart, R., & Gazmararian, J. A. (2023). The impact of Covid-19 on education
experiences of high school students in semi-rural Georgia. Journal of School Health,
93(4), 257-265. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/josh.13269
Brecht, A. A., & Burnett, D. D. (2019). Advising student-athletes for success: Predicting the
academic success and persistence of collegiate student-athletes. NACADA Journal, 39(1),
49-59. http://doi.org/10.12930/NACADA-17-044
Fisher, H. H., Hawkins, G. T., Hertz, M., Sliwa, S., & Beresovsky, V. (2022). Student and school
characteristics associated with Covid-19 related learning decline among middle and high
school students in K-12 schools. Journal of School Health, 92(11), 1027-1039.
https:// doi: 10.1111/josh.13243
Hertting, K., Johnson, U., Lindgren, E.-C., & Ivarsoon, A.(2023). “Someday it will be better
again”: Upper secondary student-athletes’ experiences of schoolwork and sport 7 and
14 months after the Covid-19 outbreak. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research,
1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2023.2263475
Hornstra, L., A. Denissen, J. J., Diepstraten, I., & Bakx, A. (2022). Parents’ perceptions of
secondary school students’ motivation and well-being before and during the COVID-19
lockdown: The moderating role of student characteristics. Journal of Research in Special
Educational Needs, 22(3), 209-220. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.12551
Mozammel, S., Ahmed, U., & Shakar, N. (2021). COVID-19 and online learning: critical
insights for academic achievement.LIlkogretim Online,%20(4), 1452–1457.
https://doi.org/10.17051/ilkonline.2021.04.166
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