By ANDY LIU and KATIE TIAN
Most schools in the United States reopened for the new school year with some version of in-person instruction. Teachers were exposed to an unprecedented situation and have been facing the challenges of teaching during a global pandemic.
In the current model, Jericho students were given a choice between attending school every other day and staying fully virtual. Multiple precautions have been put into place in order to ensure the safety of the in-person students and staff. Students are required to learn from behind desk guards and with masks on. Visitor access is limited. Designated lunch spaces across campus prevent overcrowding indoors.
Even with the abundance of safety precautions, the primary concern of most teachers is contracting the virus.
High school English teacher Ms. Brown, who is expecting a child, continues to teach in school despite the potential risks to her pregnancy. She said, “Every day I’m risking my health, my baby’s health, but I’m so passionate about my career. I love the act of teaching, so it means a lot to me to be in person.”
High school Spanish teacher Ms. Tomkiel wears scrubs as her method of preventing infection. She said, “My kids run to me at the end of the day when I come home. I make sure I take this off [scrubs] before I hug them or kiss them. It gives me that sense of I’m doing everything that I possibly can to minimize their exposure.”
Although she knows the virus is mainly spread through the air, Ms. Tomkiel wears her scrubs because she is still concerned about surface contact since she has small children at home.
The risk of infection was not the only obstacle that teachers encountered, as they took on the dual responsibility of keeping themselves safe and managing a productive classroom. High school science teacher Ms. Rinaudo normally teaches using a hands-on approach. She said, “I’m still looking for ways to do that, but they have to be online. I have to look for other activities and rebuild them.”
Even for experienced teachers, beginning the new school year was trying. Ms. Rinaudo added, “After 37 years of teaching, I felt like a brand-new teacher again.”
For some teachers, daily interaction in a public scene was too great of a health risk. On this basis, the Jericho School District allowed teachers with documented health accommodations to teach from home.
Middle school English teacher Ms. Brill was granted a health accommodation to teach from a distance. She said, “It was a really, really difficult decision for me to make. But my doctors and my family convinced me that it would be really unsafe and unwise for me to be at school.”
Similarly, middle school English teacher Ms. Scalera applied for and was granted a health accommodation to teach remotely. She said, “I’ve never felt like I was forced to make a decision. I think the District really gave me the privilege of being able to do both. Instead of asking me to take a leave of absence, which I guess they could’ve done, they made it work where I am still able to teach even though I am home.”
High school nurse Iris Reshef continues to provide medical services for students and staff. She said, “For me, I will take every situation and do my best. I can tell you that I was worried about my own safety, but then otherwise, I will do my best to handle every medical situation possible.”
Nurse Iris Reshef works in her office behind plexiglass barriers to ensure the safety of the school community.
On September 24, Mr. Grishman sent out an email to students and parents to inform them of a confirmed COVID-19 case of a part-time staff member in the middle school. In it, he explained, “The DOH conducted an investigation and has given the district the approval to continue our daily operations as usual. They have assured us that there is no health risk related to this matter. The health and safety of the Jericho school community remains our highest priority.”
On October 22, Mr. Grishman sent out a second email to inform the district that a student at Jericho High School had tested positive for the virus. Following recommendations from the DOH, the school did not find it necessary to initiate a closure.
Teachers expressed their concerns about these events. Ms. Tomkiel said, “I think some students, staff, etc. may feel weary not knowing who the person is because they can’t feel certain they were not in close contact with them.”
However, she acknowledged the tension in these circumstances. “It’s a tricky subject because the school needs to honor the privacy of those who test positive,” Ms. Tomkiel said.
Though the current situation is not ideal, teachers are developing new tactics to teach effectively while keeping themselves and their families safe.