Take Charge, Educators!

 

            For years, most educators--both current and retired--have worked hard and remained silent—or, at least, relatively silent. Current educators are continuing to work hard (harder than ever, actually, with this virtual/on-campus-virtual/hybrid environment) but, finally, these educators--and those of us who are retired--are starting to SPEAK UP and to TAKE CHARGE!

SAFETY

Just as I sat down to write this blog post, one of my friends, Letty, who is an elementary teacher here in McAllen (TX) sent me this video. It features Indiana high-school physics teacher Amy Foley speaking this month before the school board in her district. She speaks eloquently, but I must warn you it is painful to listen to her words. She voices the truth about today’s teaching and learning environment. She moved me to tears as she passionately told board members, “We love our students; we love our profession!” and when she spoke about the dramatic physical, mental, and emotional toll hybrid learning is having, not only on students, but also on school employees. Foley’s words echo throughout the country. She begs the school board to sit down with teachers and staff to find solutions before the toll that is already devastating becomes irreparable. (I would like to offer one solution right now. Expecting teachers to teach students sitting before them in the classroom while teaching students sitting at home, tuning in from their electronic devices, is ludicrous. This is unfair to teachers and to students because the students sitting right in front of them are still being taught on their computers. Seriously, this is not a viable solution to teaching during this pandemic.)

            One week ago, I received a Facebook notification about a press conference:  “Anoka-Hennepin educators call on the school district to address unsafe learning conditions in the schools - including poor ventilation and a lack of reporting and contract tracing of COVID cases in the schools.” A parent also spoke at the press conference, as did teachers’ union officials. Their words, too, speak what educators here in South Texas and in cities across the country are saying—"We need help! We will be part of the solution! This is not what is best for our students or for us!”

            I urge educators—as always, when I refer to “educators,” I include everyone who works in our public-school system—to TEAM UP, SPEAK UP, INSIST ON SOLUTIONS, and TAKE CHARGE!   

HEALTH

            This point is more personal and one I struggled with; however, Vivian, my friend who is a high-school teacher in McAllen, insisted I include it. We both decided I could because I have struggled with obesity since sixth grade. (No offense to those who have not, but it just seems harder to hear advice about weight from someone who has never been labeled “obese.”)

            I have seen and heard educators’ fear about returning to school. Much of it is due to the fear of contracting COVID-19 at school and bringing it home to spouses, children, and parents or grandparents who live with them. But an untold number of educators are also worried because of their own health.

            I have spoken to several local health officials and to Dr. Mario Luis Ramirez, who I have known since he was in high school in McAllen, and have watched countless interviews about how “underlying conditions” worsen outcomes for those who contract COVID-19. The local health officials I interviewed said their number one concern is obesity. and as we know, obesity can lead to the other underlying conditions that have proven to be devastating for so many during this pandemic, including diabetes, hypertension, heart conditions, and lung conditions. (I certainly recognize that these conditions are not always caused by obesity, but I am focusing on how weight can have a significant impact on other health issues.)

            If ever we have needed to TAKE CHARGE of our own health, it is now. For some, that may mean making an appointment with a dietician. For others, it may mean joining a local weight-loss clinic or program. And for others, it may mean making an appointment with our doctor for help with a weight-loss program. Some may even want to start a take-charge-of-our-health program on your campus or with a group of friends.

            One thing I had to finally face over the last two years is that what I eat is even more important than exercise when it comes to weight loss. For years, I have worked out—hard—six days a week, but I worked equally hard to pump sugar and other unhealthy foods into my system. I am a “student,” learning more each day about the role I need to play in my own health.

            Fellow Educators, I want to assure you that the journey to taking charge of our health—starting with weight loss—may not be an easy one, but it certainly is a rewarding one if it can reduce our chances of suffering life-threatening consequences should we contract COVID-19, improve our overall health, help us save money on medications we will no longer need, and makes exercise, shopping, and just living much easier.

VOTING

             If you are not familiar with Texans for Public Education (or similar organizations in other states), I urge you to TAKE CHARGE of your voting knowledge by reading their ratings of elected officials in the state, based on the candidates’/incumbents’ affiliations, voting records, and more. They thoroughly research each one and rate them as unfriendly, neutral, or friendly toward public education.

            Before I voted Tuesday, the first day of Early Voting, I visited Ballotpedia and used their Sample Ballot Lookup. I typed in my street address and my city and state, and clicked on “View My Ballot.” Then I chose the November 3 election, and up popped my sample ballot. What I love about this particular tool is that next to each candidate’s name, there is an arrow. When I click on that arrow, I get a wealth of information on that candidate. Although I knew exactly who would receive my vote in the Texas Legislature and for all federal offices, this tool helped me decide which Texas Supreme Court candidates align with my values.

             In Texas, Early Voting continues through October 30. The polls are open today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday) and are open next weekend, too.

            Wherever you live, check with your local Elections Office for details on places, dates, and times.

I know educators across the country are facing the same critical issues we are facing in Texas—public-school funding, health insurance, safety, pension security…

            TAKE CHARGE—VOTE!

            Let’s do this, Educators!  When it comes to safety, health, and voting, let’s TAKE CHARGE!

 Chris Ardis retired in May of 2013 following a 29-year teaching career. She now works as a freelance writer and editor and remains committed to education educators, and studetnts. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com. (Photo by Linda Blackwell, McAllen)

Back to School, Virtual, or Hybrid? What’s Working and What Isn’t?

 First, I want to take a minute to tell all school employees THANK YOU! I can only imagine how difficult the spring semester and “The Summer of Worry” were and how much stress you are enduring at the start of the new year.

As you know, I live in the Rio Grande Valley, where public schools remain closed for the time being. Every day, I hear from teachers who tell me they are staying up until 1 or 2 in the morning to complete attendance, to grade, and to provide for the next day’s synchronous or asynchronous lesson. I also hear from friends who teach in other parts of Texas and in other states where students are back in school. They share tales of the latest round of quarantines, some excellent practices in place, and phases of reopening.

Our cafeteria heroes continue to provide breakfast and lunch to students each day--with the help of our school bus drivers--even in sweltering heat and pouring rain, just as they did throughout the most frightening days of the pandemic, Our custodians have worked tirelessly to prepare our schools for reopening and have undergone training for this new level of sanitization. Our administrative teams and all other team members are riding together on this pandemic roller coaster.

I would love to hear from YOU—teachers, support staff, librarians, counselors, UIL coaches/sponsors, administrators, and all other school employees. I would also love to hear from parents and students. This is what I would like to know, either in the comments below this post or, if you prefer, by sending me an email:

1.      1. In what district do you work?

2.      2. Is your school open for f2f instruction, completely virtual, or following a hybrid plan?

3.      3. What IS working that other schools/districts should consider emulating, keeping the two most important goals in mind: the education of our children and the safety of students and employees?

4.      4. What is NOT working, and what solutions can you offer?

5.      5. Does your school/district have community partners providing assistance in any way/shape/form? If yes, who are those partners and how are they helping?

Let’s share Best Practices and “Stop That Right Nows!” (Yes, I am fully aware that “nows” is not a word, yet it is exactly what I mean!)

While I understand the level of anxiety and angst, I am asking that the dialogue remain respectful. My goal is for all of us to help each other get through this COVID craziness. As my mom always says, “This, too, shall pass.” Not soon enough, but it WILL pass!

BONUS SECTION

            I have decided to try two new things this “season.”

First, I would like to share some mental-health resources I use and others I want to try and invite you to check them out, especially during this highly stressful, emotional time:

1. Podcasts to try: Hay House Meditations; Inspire Nation; The Happiness Lab

2. Mental Health and COVID-19 Resources

Do you have others you would like to share?  If so, please do!

Second, I know many teachers and other school employees have a “side hustle” to earn extra money and to share your talents!  I thought it would be great to share those in order to support our fellow educators. (Always remember that when I use the term “educators,” I am referring to ALL school employees! We are a team!)

I would like to start Educator Side Hustle off with two:

1.      1. My former student, Katherine, is now a special-education teacher in Corpus Christi and a single mom who recently opened an online shop with her popular home-sewn products  and other great items:  Check out Full Moon Junkyard and give this fellow educator’s page a like on Facebook!

2.      2. Teacher Courtney Jones, who started the #clearthelist movement, is still teaching while running the new nonprofit ClearTheList Foundation, which offers grants and all sorts of other opportunities for teachers. Check out the Foundation’s website, too!

Chris Ardis retired in May of 2013 following a 29-year teaching career. She now works as a freelance writer and editor and remains committed to education and educators. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com. (Photo by Linda Blackwell, McAllen)

Educators, Parents, and Students: We RISE UP!

            From the start, let me be clear.  When I talk about “educators,” I am referring to everyone who works in our school system.  Teachers and classroom aides may be the ones educating students in the classroom, but bus drivers, cafeteria staff, counselors, librarians, custodians, office staff, sign-language interpreters, maintenance staff, administrators, nurses, speech-and-language pathologists, diagnosticians, substitute teachers, and everyone else in our schools plays a critical role in educating our students. 

            Few, if any, saw this current situation coming.  Though many of us were watching the COVID-19 story unfold in other countries, I doubt most of us had any idea we would be following directives to stay home, searching for sources for masks and gloves, educating all students virtually, and watching a true partnership between teachers and parents develop before our eyes.

            Years ago, I read the book On Death and Dying by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.  It was fascinating as she outlined the steps one goes through when diagnosed with a terminal illness.  I have gone through these stages myself when I have lost someone I love.

            As I watched my friends—some who are teachers, some who are parents of school-aged children, and some who are both—deal with the sudden reality of school closing indefinitely, I soon realized many of them, too, were going through these stages:  denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.  I think I can say the same for many/most of our children.

            What I love is that acceptance did not take as long as it could have. Parents, some deemed “essential” who still must go to work, some who are working from home, and some who have been laid off indefinitely, were suddenly thrust into the role of homeschool teacher, or, some might say, administrator/counselor/teacher/support staff.  Teachers, all at varying levels of digital fluency, had to step into the role of virtual teacher almost overnight, as our cafeteria staff adjusted to Meals on Wheels, our administrators had to figure out how to oversee this distance learning while motivating staff, parents, and teachers, and many other members of  Team Education took on new, unchartered roles, too.

            But, as Andra Day sings in Rise Up,

And I’ll rise up

I'll rise like the day

I’ll rise up

I'll rise unafraid

I'll rise up

And I’ll do it a thousand times again

And I’ll rise up

High like the waves

I’ll rise up

In spite of the ache

I'll rise up

And I’ll do it a thousand times again

For you…

All we need, all we need is hope

And for that we have each other

And for that we have each other

            Instead of saying, “Together, we can,” I say, “Together, WE ARE!”

Over the last couple of weeks, I have seen countless posts about great resources that have been made available for our students/teachers/parents for as long as #RiseUp continues.  Here are several I just had to share.  (They are linked):

500 Free Online Courses From Ivy League Schools That Will Make You Smarter (and Less Stir Crazy)  Got time to kill? Check out these classes from the likes of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

Apps for Students With Special Needs—As School Buildings Shutter

Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings (Updated) : Amazing Educational Resources  (Check out their FB page, too!)

Google now lets you explore U.S. National Parks via 360-degree virtual tours

IMAS (International Museum of Art & Science) is hosting at-home workshops

Learning Resources from Sylvan - Inspiring Learning Far Beyond the Classroom AND Sylvan Nation

NASA Makes Their Entire Media Library Publicly Accessible and Copyright Free

Science Bob

Share My Lesson, by Educators for Educators

These Education Companies Are Offering Free Subscriptions to Parents During School Closures (including Audible, Rosetta Stone, Khan Academy, Scholastic, Mystery Science, and more!)

TIME For Kids Digital Library Free for the Rest of the School Year

Welcome to Art For Kids Hub! - Here you’ll find all kinds of art lessons for kids, including how to draw for kids, even painting and origami for kids.

I would be remiss if I did not also share some links to mental-health resources, as well.  This has been difficult for children and adults alike. You’re not alone.

Coping with Stress and Anxiety at Home Webinar, McAllen ISD

Mental Health and COVID-19 and Dr. Christine Moutier Discusses Managing Your Mental Health on CNN Town Hall, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Ten Percent Happier LIVE, Live guided meditation + a virtual break from social distancing.

Free. Every weekday at 2 p.m. (and videotaped for viewing at any time)

Finally, I would like to share this video sent to me this afternoon by Alex Trevino, director of McHi Mariachi, six-time state champions, from McAllen High School, where I ended my teaching career.  Videos like this speak to me of resilience, of finding a way, of strength, of courage, of community, and of love.

Parents, Educators, and Students:  If YOU have resources you have discovered and/or if you have videos to share of #RISINGUP, please post the links in the comments under this blog post!  I do not say, “Together, we can.”  I say, “TOGETHER, WE ARE!”

 Chris Ardis retired in May of 2013 following a 29-year teaching career. She now helps companies with business communications and social media. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com. (Photo by Linda Blackwell, McAllen)