Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1297492
Step inside Monroe Elementary in Green River, and you'll realize: things look very different than they did before the school building was forced to close as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 in March. Facemasks, plexiglass dividers, spaced out desks, and staggered lunch schedules are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of change for students and staff. "There were a lot of questions about exactly what it was going to look like before school started," said Lisa Robison, President of the Green River Education Association (GREA). Robison shared that her acting Superintendent formed both a parents' group and a teachers' group to gather input and share information about school reopening plans in her district. The GREA was also offered a seat at the table, joining a committee of other district and community leaders involved in information sharing and decision making. In Lisa's words, the transparency and inclusion on the part of the district "relieved stress and fears that were going on with teachers and support staff, and parents, too." A counselor at Monroe, Robison, says that the key to adapting and thriving in school in the COVID-19 era lies in not only physical temperature checks but mental ones as well. "As a counselor, I help monitor the temperature—so to speak—of the school. We work together to make sure that we don't let anxiety take over. We all do breathing exercises to help us stay relaxed, because if you have anxious teachers, then our kids are going to feel that way, too." Travel about 300 miles north of Monroe Elementary, and you'll find that on the far opposite side of the state in Northwest Wyoming, students and educators at Burlington Schools in Greybull are facing many of the same challenges. "The administration in Burlington has tried to be supportive of the needs of students and staff during this time," Wendy Kuper told WEA News. Kuper is a West Bighorn County Education Association member. She teaches Language Arts to eighth and tenth graders and teaches high school yearbook in the school of about 220 students. By nature of her age and preexisting health conditions, Kuper is at higher risk of suffering severe complications from a COVID-19 infection. For her, adapting to successful schooling in these complicated times has rested heavily on taking precautionary measures against the spread of the virus. The school has a fogger to sanitize areas each day, hand sanitizer at each building entrance, cleaning supplies, face masks, and shields. But Wendy has taken it upon herself to provide additional PPE and protective measures in her classroom. "I deemed them necessary and did not want to use our department budget for them," said Kuper. "I know not all teachers can afford to do this, and I am sure our school would have helped as much as possible if I had asked." Kuper provided additional eye protection, lanyards to keep masks close-at-hand, sanitizers and cleaning supplies, and extra school supplies to eliminate the need for sharing. Her husband even built custom, extended partitions out of PVC pipe and clear shower curtains. "Do I feel safe in my school?" Kuper considered, "Short of being in a bubble, about as safe as I can be. Could things be a little better? Of course. This involves people and students, and we never do what needs to be done perfectly, 100% of the time." From Green River to Greybull and in the communities in between, educators and students are finding ways to adapt and continue with their schooling and with their lives through the COVID-19 pandemic. Using physical defenses like PPE and mental defenses against anxiety and exhaustion, education employees are working tirelessly to defend the bodies and minds of their students, colleagues, families, and communities. Both the Green River Education Association and the West Big Horn County Education Association commended their districts for providing PPE and taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools. Students and staff have adapted to in-person instruction in the midst of a pandemic. They've adapted to the startling and ever-present reality that our collective health and safety relies on our collective actions. As students and educators have adapted, Wendy Kuper hopes that everyone will adapt to exercising commonsense public health measures to stem the virus's spread before it's too late. "Unfortunately, it won't become real for some until tragedy strikes at the heart of our small community," said Kuper. "I pray that never happens." ADAPTING COVID ERA to the We work together to make sure that we don't let anxiety take over. Wendy Kuper poses with a face shield in her classroom. 16