The First Day of School 2020
I walked the halls this morning at 5am, delivering my first
day of school teacher notes, and the thought about how different today is than
any other start of school hit me like a ton of bricks. It feels like the air
has been let out of the building. This is typically the time of day I have
butterflies- anticipating the best day of the year. It is the same feeling I
get on Christmas morning- sitting, drinking coffee, waiting for kids to wake up
excited. Usually I am running around excited, trying to get last minute things
done before the quiet halls fill up with giggly sweet voices. Not today. These
halls will remain quiet. The building is not open, school is, but the building
is not. We in NISD believe that
“Learning is influenced by environment.” I truly believe this! We create
inviting intentional spaces for students that cultivate learning; what happens
when you cannot use the inviting intentional physical spaces you have created
for your kids? You have to create that space digitally.
Teachers have been “punting” for years. Everyday issues
arise that we had not expected or planned on happening- no one saw this coming.
Even when we finished last year in May, everyone said it is fine, we will be
back in August and it will be good. But it is not. We are not good; however, it
will be fine. I have watched educators work to create learning experiences for
students all summer. We have planned, tested, re-planned, tested, and planned
again. We did not “sign up” for virtual teaching, there are teachers that do
this- many are amazing at it! Most teachers love teaching for the interaction
and relationships they build with students and families. We are huggers, we
love deep and forever. Once you are in our heart, you stay. This is more difficult
to develop through a computer screen. This is a new rulebook we are playing by and
unfortunately, it is constantly changing. I have never been more proud to be an
educator than I am right now. The teachers I am working with are not
complaining about their circumstances, they are working to ensure they can meet
the needs of their kids virtually. They are not complaining that they are not
experts in online tools, they are practicing the tools to make sure they know
how to use them with their kids. They are doing what it takes to be the best
teacher they can be for each student in their classroom.
There have been remarks made about the opening of schools
being “unorganized” and “they have had all summer to make plans.” Please give
teachers and educators some Grace, the rules change daily, we test out ideas to
see if they will be good for kids, and we have to go with the information we
have at that time- also a factor that constantly changes. We are determined to
be the BEST we can for our students.
Have we done everything perfect? No. Have we done a few
things very well? Yes. Will things change again? Yes. Do I know what the
changes will be? No. I know everyone has questions and concerns about school
opening and school not opening- that is not what today is about. Today is about
the excitement of starting a new school year- regardless of what it looks like.
School starts today, teachers have worked more hours than they typically do at
this time of year (and that is A LOT) and students are excited to meet their
classmates, so parents post those 1st day of school pictures because
today is going to be a great day!
