A teacher prepares for an uncertain school year

Editor's note: On Aug. 4, as this issue was about to go to press, St. Vrain Valley Schools announced that the 2020-21 school year will begin with "a 100 percent online-learning model for all students" at least through the end of September.

When the bell rings and students settle into their desks in a couple of weeks, teachers will find themselves face-to-face with a lot of unknowns. The invisible threat of the coronavirus puts them in a tenuous position of trying to keep themselves, their students, their family and friends safe. That, on top of teaching in a way they've never done before.

"I have a lot of trepidation," said an elementary teacher who wants to be anonymous because the issue is so sensitive.

As of now, public schools in Boulder County have decided to go with a hybrid model of splitting students into two groups, alternating in-person education with online learning so that only half the class is at school on any given day. That decision has consequences for everyone, but teachers will soon be on the front lines of a global pandemic.

"We're that group of people who will do the right thing because that's what we do. But this is hard. We have to put students first, but realize that we have families and people in our lives too. Those are big decisions for us," the teacher said.

Teachers in the two local districts had to make a decision about whether to go back to the classroom or choose to join all-remote online teaching programs, St. Vrain LaunchED Virtual Academy or Boulder Universal. Those who have health conditions that make them more likely to get very sick or even die were given the online option along with teachers who care for vulnerable family members. The others will be asked to do more than they already do, with the added pressure of protecting themselves and their students, knowing that the success of the school year and human lives are at stake.

"I've made my choice to be back, because it's the best place for me, for my students. They've been isolated enough. Someone has to be in the classrooms. We need to be in an environment where we can be together. This is what we do. To not be able to do that in a normal way is the biggest stress for us."

It will take a high level of vigilance to make sure kids do social distancing, wear masks and wash their hands frequently, especially in an elementary school where that's likely to be tested right away. "We're asking five to ten-year-olds not to hug their friends they haven't seen in a while."

Teachers will also have heightened responsibilities for the emotional and intellectual wellbeing of children who will be adjusting to a very different school environment and lots of new rules.

"We'll have to look at how kids will handle this. It will be stressful. We're the ones that help keep the kids calm and trust that everything will be OK."

One of the biggest challenges is masks, a critical part of safety protocols, but something that impacts a very important element of human connection, seeing each other's faces. "Younger kids need to see the teacher's mouth move to see how the sounds are made. We read each other's faces all day long. When I give that look, they know they need to behave. I'd like to have my kids see me smile. We [teachers] rely on their faces to decide what kind of a day they're having. But, I won't compromise on wearing masks for love or money."

Soon, teachers will see evidence of how well the abrupt switch to online learning went last spring. "Most of us will start where we always start with our grade level and be very aware of where our kids are. Then we'll assess and figure out how far they got. We do that on a daily basis, teach and go back and see where kids are at. It's the way we teach anyway. I, personally, am very confident that teachers in the grade levels below did a very good job."

But that doesn't mean that there won't be some impact after the dramatic change in how students are taught. "Somewhere down the road there will be repercussions from all this. Until we get kids back safely in the classroom, we can't tell."

Teachers received tech support in the spring and had the option of taking professional development classes this summer to learn more about how to teach remotely. The teacher we spoke with took a couple of those classes and said they were really helpful, but several classes weren't available because enrollment was full. "I would have liked more training, but options were limited."

Kerri McDermid, chief communications officer for St. Vrain Valley School District said in an email that 900 teachers engaged in blended learning this summer. She said that all teachers will participate in five days of training before school starts, "The training includes health and safety protocols, as well as blended learning best practices and other important focus areas," she said.

Each school will have its own way of implementing the district's plans. The teacher we spoke with said that they will be allowed to use their own judgment on how to execute remote elements of the curriculum, using a mixture of synchronous, or live online learning, and asynchronous lessons. "Flexibility is huge. This is what's going to work for me and my students," the teacher said.

Another option is to teach outdoors for part of the day. A dedicated space is being opened up at the teacher's school. There will also be a place to eat outdoors.

Other things will look different. There won't be tables with groups of kids anymore. Each student will have his or her own desk, facing forward in a row. Since only half the class will be there on a given day, there will be an empty desk between students to allow for more distance.

Many of the standard operating procedures need to be reconsidered. Parents are being asked to get kids all the supplies they need so they don't have to share. Teachers also typically use communal property. "Who will get to use the copy machines? How many people can be in there? So many things for buildings and the district to figure out. I don't want to sound like teachers are unhappy. We're just working with all the scenarios to figure out how this will look."

But, the teacher is more concerned about bigger questions like what will happen if someone gets sick and how that will be handled. The elevated risk of being back in school has caused the teacher to consider interactions with other people outside of work, including a decision not to see a regular group of friends once school starts. "I won't put them in that position."

The teacher is generally supportive of the hybrid plan while looking forward to getting more information on the specifics. "I do have concerns and also realize the school district is in a really tough place. The district is doing a lot of things right, but there is no way to make everyone happy. I can't say we're doing this 100% right. We'll do the best thing we can do and then look at it from all avenues."

Planning for the uncertain school year includes communicating with families. The teacher has already begun the process as a way of helping everyone manage expectations and get off to a good start. "I've been candid with the parents. The only way to allay their fears is to say we're going to get through this together."

Opening schools requires a high degree of trust on everyone's part. St. Vrain Valley School District Superintendent Don Haddad said at a school board meeting in July that the district is leaning heavily on science and medical experts who are constantly evaluating new research and health protocols. Schools will have to adjust and be flexible as the year unfolds. Teachers are also relying on science. "I hope studies are true that kids don't transmit as much as adults. Maybe, by the grace, we'll dodge a bullet."

That phrase is appropriate as teachers prepare to be on the front lines, playing a critical role as schools, and all of society, learns in real time how to survive and adapt to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus.