A new school year is starting following what was meant to be a comeback year for America’s schools — a return to classrooms and rebuilding of communities after months of remote or hybrid learning, disconnection, and uncertainty.

And for many schools, it was, at least for a while. Schools fully reopened. Vaccines were available for teens and would soon be for children over 5. Districts mapped out how to spend an unprecedented amount of COVID relief money.

But the buildings that swung wide their doors to students in the fall of 2021 were changed schools — as were the students and educators that fill them.

Join New Memphis, Chalkbeat Tennessee, and Spillit for an evening of stories from students and educators that speak to the theme, “The Comeback.” New Memphis will also announce its new class of Educators of Excellence. Special thanks to our editorial partner for this event, The Daily Memphian.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and light refreshments and drinks will be provided. This event is free to attend, but RSVP so we know you are coming. We hope you come celebrate the start of a new school year with us by listening to these powerful stories.