The teacher's experience of reopening schools during COVID? Not great.
The doors have slowly started to reopen this week, and some children are stepping back into the classroom for the first time in more than four months. It’s a topic fraught with conflicting opinions, feelings, and much stress for schools and families alike. Should schools reopen and how? We wanted to know the teacher’s experience on reopening schools. What is it like when you are now the frontline hero?
Teachers across Central Indiana have shared similar sentiments about the loss and grief experienced by the sudden closure of schools this spring. Not only was it a stressor professionally, but many expressed profound sadness for themselves at not having a proper goodbye with their students. The deep love educators have for their students was palpable as they shared their stories. After the sudden closure, “I never saw my students in-person again,” said CityMom and former Indianapolis Pubic Schools teacher, Stacey Stover. “That was the strangest end to a school year.”
The pressure for school districts to return to in-person instruction from families as well as local and national government has been laden with dissenting opinions and much grief from both parents and teachers.
Scientists have stated the transmission rates among children are lower and both the AAP and CDC have released statements supporting children returning to the classroom, explaining the benefits of in-person instruction outweigh the risks. However, teachers feel ignored in the discussions. CityMom and educator, Cara Kruger said teacher's experience is often the same as the parents. “We don’t know any more than you do, really.” She explained teachers typically receive the district emails just minutes before parents. “This year is going to look vastly different and its not any of the teachers’ faults. We’re being asked to get rid of many of the best practices for student learning and reimagine routines and practices.”For the teachers experiencing a return to instruction, their preparation includes some nontraditional steps, such as setting up a will and increasing life insurance policies, separating living space from immediate family who are at-risk, and investing in a variety of PPE and sanitizing materials. It hasn't been an easy decision for the school staff.
Returning in-person
While most Indianapolis area teachers are waiting on schools to begin in-person instruction, CityMom Victoria Miller returned last week, serving as the District Autism Consultant for Avon Community Schools. She shared her reaction on the first day of school, “Most of the staff are torn, because they are concerned with how the changes will affect our students and are worried about safety." She said there's a feeling of overwhelm among the staff as they attempt to balance student support with the increased expectations this year.
City Mom Cara teaches elementary Special Education Resource for a suburban district, and is assigned 15-20 students spread among 10 classrooms and multiple grades. She has chosen to return to school, but isn’t feeling confident. “There is limited guidance on how to approach the safety measures from a Resource Teacher perspective,” she said. “I’m not sure how I will run small groups with students who might find masks uncomfortable. With my demographic of students, many need up-close-and-personal teaching, and in some cases physical support.” Similarly, Victoria shared the challenges that educators have who are not leading an individual classroom. There is less ability to isolate exposure to just one class, meaning the precautions are even more complicated.
Cara also struggles with the fear for herself and her family that returning to school brings. “I am scared for myself, my own children, my relatives that I will not likely be able to see due to potential exposure, and for my students," she said. "My mother, a retired teacher, has begged me to find a way to work from home this year, even if that means quitting.” As Cara prepares for her return, she’s looking for comfortable masks that allow her to be easily heard, and possibly seen {which is very important for the special needs population}. She is also looking for work appropriate clothing that can be washed and sanitized easily and frequently.
Emily Draybn and her husband Chris, are both music teachers, which is considered a higher risk teaching position this year. They, too, are conflicted about the return to school, but feel there is no other because they are both teachers and have no alternatives for income. “We are worried for ourselves, our health and the health of our parents and families. We are terrified that we will make the wrong decision and someone in our families will suffer the consequences,” she said. “At the same time, we are laying [sic] awake at night worrying about our ‘other’ kids at school. We worry about who will be there for them if we don't go back. We worry about the ones who can't do eLearning well, who don't have food, who don't have safe homes, who don't have access to caring adults, and on and on.”
Returning virtually
A Washington Township elementary teacher, who has asked to remain anonymous, has struggled to reconcile her competing feelings about beginning the school year virtually. “I was nervous about the possible safety concerns of returning in-person, and now worry less about that,” she said. “But teaching these young kids virtually is hard. They don’t all respond well to online instruction.” She said she also worries about those children who have less support and/or access to the internet at home. “It’s not a level playing field for every family. I worry if this goes on all year that the gaps will be large.”She explained all the teachers in her school miss the students and want to be there with them in the classroom. They are hopeful to return to in-person instruction this school year. “I feel a little guilty to be relieved to be virtual,” she said. “But, I can’t wait until I can get back and hug my kids again.”
Not returning this year
CityMom Stacey Stover, a former instructor through Indianapolis Public Schools, made the difficult decision not to return this year, opting to homeschool her two children. “Our younger child is high-risk, so this feels like a safer choice to reduce our number of daily contacts, but it’s also my chance to say ‘No, what you are asking of teachers is not fair.’”
STILL STRUGGLING WITH YOUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL PLAN? Check out our guide on schooling options
Stacey’s sentiments are echoed by many educators across the country, lamenting the teacher's experience of being undervalued and underpaid. “I don’t think conditions will change for teachers until enough [of us] say ‘No.’ I love my students, but they deserve better than overworked and underpaid teachers, and I won’t be guilted into sacrificing my physical and mental health this year,” Stacey said. “We’re not heard when we speak up, but keep teaching. So maybe we’ll be heard now that a significant portion are leaving the classroom this year." Stacey hopes to return to education in the future, when she feels it is safe.
Supporting Our Teachers
“Basically, the worry is endless,” Emily shared. “Teachers are spending a lot of time comforting each other, consulting endlessly, worrying, feeling like it will be ok, feeling like it will never be ok.....feeling all the feelings.” As you can imagine, this is a time of immeasurable stress and pressure for instructors across the country, and as parents, we can do our part to support them as best we can. Whether you are beginning you school year in-person, with hybrid instruction, or virtually, teachers are asking for your patience and encouragement. Practice mask wearing with your child before school begins and explain the importance of social distancing {help little ones understand how far apart six feet is}, so teachers can focus more on instruction and less on safety enforcement. Lastly, consider donating extra sanitizing or PPE equipment; while most parents assume districts will provide these materials, in reality many teachers will be funding these materials from their own pockets. There is no right decision for any family or teacher, but we can choose to support everyone in decisions they have made.
We want to cheer on all the teachers and administration who worked tirelessly this summer to determine the appropriate course of action for their schools. Whether schools are returning in-person or virtually, this is an exceptionally challenging year in uncharted waters for the staff, and we know they are working diligently in service of our kids. We would be remiss if we did not also recognize the paraprofessional staff {secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers} showing up for the children. Thank you for your service to our families and our communities.
