Dear Editor:
I want to share my thoughts of COVID’s implications on education.
March 11, 2020, was the first time our [Morrison Community Unit School] District began to discuss e-learning, something we thought was years off. The jovial mood of the gathering did not portend the soon-to-be infamous shelter-in-place, because at that time, we had no idea how imminent distance learning was to be. As we finished the meeting, we patted ourselves on the back for beginning what would soon be a complicated, difficult, and heart-wrenching process.
[While] leaving work on Friday, March 13, a text came from the Superintendent: “There’s going to be an important announcement from the Governor. You might want to come to an impromptu meeting with the District leadership.” That meeting started what would become a year-long process of difficult decisions, missteps, failures, and successes. The administration team worked tirelessly that weekend, to make sure we could survive the fourth quarter. Everyone was thrown into a “Brave New World.” Not knowing what to expect, contingency plans A-F were made. District employees, parents, and students were troopers, doing what they could to survive until we could get back into school, still holding out hope that we might be able to return in April or May.
The dreaded proclamation came–schools will not be returning to school in the spring. The disappointment and depression were palpable! No spring season for our athletes, no prom, no graduation, no sense of normalcy. Morrison found a way to give the Seniors a drive-through graduation. While it wasn’t what everyone may have hoped for, the ceremony was the best it could have been, given the parameters set by the State.
The summer of 2020 held copious amounts of meetings with teacher leaders, Principals, the Technology Director, and the Superintendent. How were we going to navigate the pandemic? How can we keep everyone safe while meeting their academic, physical, social, and emotional needs? Surveys were sent out to teachers and parents; their input was factored into decisions.
The fall of 2020 started with a collective breath-holding. How hard will it be to enforce the mask mandate? How many will get sick? When will we be shut down again? What does hybrid learning look like? Can we offer school-sanctioned sports?
During the school year, the State of Illinois, IDPH, ISHA, and ISBE sent out new guidelines, often reversing previous mandates. The District did its best to follow the ever-changing, often vague, guidance. Along the way, difficult choices had to be made. Healthy debates were had. Unfortunately, hurt feelings occurred. However, throughout the process, our District was committed to doing the best it could with what it had.
At this point, I would like to recognize the groups of people that made it possible. Starting at the top, Superintendent Scott Vance, along with the Principals, Cory Bielema, Joe Robbins, Jeremy Keesee, and Andy Harridge, spent innumerable hours coming up with multiple plans for any possible scenario. Their unwavering leadership during this unprecedented year is to be commended.
Next, our Tech Director, Duane Shaffer, and his fabulous staff need to be acknowledged. Neither remote nor hybrid learning could have been a possibility without all of their dedication, knowledge, and training. I learned more about technology during this crisis than I have in 30 years of teaching.
My fellow Teachers are absolute gems. They were asked to teach in a way they were never trained for, come up with innovative ways to “reach” the remote students, and learn the latest in technology, so both synchronous and asynchronous learning could occur. Regardless of their own opinions on whether or not it was safe to come to school, they performed their jobs admirably.
Support staff–often overlooked, but so vital to our organization–were beyond terrific! Counselors, Secretaries, Custodians, Aides, Bus Drivers, and Cafeteria Workers all went above and beyond the call of duty, to ensure a safe and welcoming environment.
Lastly, I want to recognize the students. Wow! We asked so much of them during this pandemic: wear your masks; stay six feet apart; get online at a certain time during the day; submit your homework via Google Classroom; learn a dozen new schedules; etc. Most of them were Rockstars. The resiliency of these students is absolutely amazing!
While we’re certainly not out of the woods yet, it is an opportune time to reflect on just how far we’ve come. I am proud to be a part of Morrison Community Unit District #6, and I am grateful for all the support the District has received from the Board of Education, parents, and the community.
Sincerely,
Connie Royer
MHS Teacher for 32 years