PVUSD teachers persevere in year of distance learning

A big thank you to the teachers of PVUSD and those across our county!

They persevered and worked through a whole year of distance education, made it appealing to the little ones in creative ways, motivating to the older students, even as so many of them are parents themselves, navigating their kids’ virtual learning.

As one of the elementary school teachers from PVUSD wrote to me, “This pandemic has taught me that I can do hard things! It’s exhausting and empowering all intertwined in my personal and professional life” and that getting the vaccine gives her a sense of hope.

Another teacher related as to how the virtual classroom gave her a window into the world of the students, some with nurturing environments, with a mom or a dad on the ready, helping their child log in and learn, whereas there were some with so much going on in the background, people walking behind, a TV on and the child (and the teacher) desperately having a class.

There have been beautiful graduations that the principals and teachers worked hard on making special, talent shows they’ve put together, virtual P.E. collaborating with the parks service and doing science experiments with household things.

One of the teachers who teaches fifth grade said how she’s working on making the return to school and the last month memorable and special since this will be her students’ last at her school; she became teary-eyed as she spoke.

There will of course be a new school to attend for them, but memories are powerful.

They spotted the kids when they “disappeared” from the virtual class and gently corralled them back, stayed after class to help with questions, emailed to clarify doubts, prepped till late into the night for their daily

“live interaction” with the students, all the while running a home and trying to stay from getting COVID-19.

The migrant program and Early and Special Needs programs have kept right on with their outreach.

As a pediatrician, I am in awe of the enthusiasm and joy I see in some of my patients’ parents who are teachers and in ever so many of my patients, little and not so little, when they talk about what they learned or what their teacher talked about. They certainly have taken to the challenge,

The teachers have made safespace schools a reality and helped the students in need of anything from digital access, lack of help at their homes for those whose parents are either essential workers or live in crowded homes, but quite literally, a “safe space” when they’re likely to be left in the care of someone and thus vulnerable.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by innovative and relevant curricula, such as 21st Century, where the students learn computer skills and business, ethnic studies even for young kids, so they talk about “how we need to respect each other” as one kid told me.

Sadly there have been inordinate numbers of teens and even younger students with mental and emotional health needs which is magnified by the poverty, food insecurity and disease and loss of loved ones.

Social, emotional counselors at schools have been true saviors to ever so many teens.

Tasks have been monumental for school districts here with setting up Google Classrooms, training the teachers and students and near daily digital communication to keep the parents and students updated. And all this while also making sure school meals are still distributed even during summer holidays.

Funding equity gaps highlight many of the issues in such schools with almost 40% being English learners and students with some of the highest needs. Yet they’re from families who bring a good portion of the fresh produce to our country and are contributors to the $50 billion that agriculture adds to California’s economy and whose toil is borne in many ways by their children, ones who are the “highest needs” students.

And, yes, “learning loss” has happened and teachers in lowincome school districts are giving their heart and soul to educate children.

California has one of the worst teacher-pupil ratios in the nation; we rank 46th 49th and 50th in instructional aides, guidance counselors and librarians – all of which are major obstacles to good education and investment in our future generation. And this in an economy with some of the greatest innovators and digital companies.

School districts’ costs keep rising and neither revenues nor state funding keep pace, especially in low-income areas, adding to the already yawning achievement gaps.

I take a deep bow to the teachers, parents, educators and athletics coaches who have endured this seemingly endless pandemic and are safely reopening on-site schooling and all those who make things happen to nurture the students’ learning and curiosity and, in parallel, help foster healthy lifestyles.