Terri Clark – First grade teacher at Jefferson-Somerset

I have been an elementary teacher for 20 years. 18 of those years have been in beautiful Jefferson County. An important lesson I have learned in this time is the only certainty is change. Most of these changes are out of a teacher’s control. 2020 has shown us that some things are out of everyone’s control.

In the midst of a global pandemic, schools were sent home in March to finish the school year in a way that we never imagined. Teachers and school personnel were given about a week to prepare to educate and feed students while adhering to new health and safety guidelines. Lessons were being taught online or prepared in other ways for students that did not have internet service.

I am extremely proud of our administration and staff in all the efforts that were made to educate our students, while keeping in mind there was a much greater need during these uncertain times.

As poet Damian Barr said, “We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.” As a school we realized that we were all facing this global pandemic, but each family was impacted differently and had different needs.

The administration at Jefferson-Somerset has always emphasized that building a strong school was all about building strong relationships. This was more important now than ever. During this time, as a teacher, I got to know the families of my students in a more meaningful way.

As schools reopen the pandemic lingers. Our worries and fears are still present. We all have to navigate our new normal. Face masks, social distancing and sanitizing are now a major part of our school day. Online teaching continues with its own set of challenges.

Please be patient and kind to teachers, and remember this is all new to us too. Teachers need mercy and grace more than ever as we face all the challenges that are in store. We need your support and understanding as much as our students need us.

How will schools handle all of these changes? you may ask. My answer is with love and courage. We will go on teaching and caring for our students because that is what we do.