The County Chronicle

The online newspaper of Loudoun County High School

Nov
16

By

Teacher’s Pets: amidst pandemic challenges, pets bring comfort to teachers during the workday

Category: Photo Spreads Tags: , ,

Karen Cortes | Managing Editor

In a complicated year like 2020, there have been a lot of ups and downs for teachers. One of those few ups is that in teaching from home, teachers get to spend more time with their pets. Teachers submitted pictures of their four legged best friends as they continue to teach virtually.

Jane Yocom has a yellow lab named Tank. Yocom says Tank “Thinks the start of block 4 and 8 are a signal for him to get his dinner.” and that he really enjoys having someone at home all day. Photo courtesy of Jane Yocum. 

 

Teacher assistant Diann Landau has “too many cats,” including Merri, Eowyn, Mikey, Tink and three kittens. She also has a horse named Mithrandir, which she gets to ride more frequently during the pandemic. She also enjoyed seeing her kittens being born. Photo courtesy of Diann Landau. 

 

English teacher Arlene Lewis has a cat at home named Allie who is “forbidden to come in her office” because she walks all over Lewis’ keyboard and will bite Lewis if she tries to remove her. According to Lewis, the cat has gotten naughtier over quarantine. Photo courtesy of Arlene Lewis.

 

Lacey Conrad has a dog named Hershey, two cats called Mini and Peaches, a frog called Diggory, and two leopard geckos named Yoshi and George. Conard’s dog follows her around all day, and she likes to speak back to her cats. She said her geckos really do nothing but, “sometimes Yoshi sits on my shoulder during class.” Photo courtesy of Lacey Conrad.

 

Math teacher Karen Carr has two cats, named Jasmine and Aladdin and a dog called Zeus. Carr said Zeus likes to class bomb once in a while and that Jasmine likes to make frequent appearances while Carr teaches yet, “Aladdin would never lower himself to associate with lowly humans.” Photo courtesy of Karen Carr.

 

Math teacher Jarod Brown has a Chocolate Lab mix named Cashmere, Brown says Cashmere usually lays with him or one of his kids while they get work done, and that he walks more than ever since the pandemic started. Photo courtesy of Jarod Brown.

 

English teacher Melinda Shingler has a cat and a dog. Shingler says Simba, her cat, keeps her company while teaching or planning and that Bella, her dog accompanies her and her husband on their 2.75 mile walk. Bella also helps Shingler’s daughters break from their monotonous routines. Photo courtesy of Melinda Shingler.

 

AP Psychology teacher Nicole Daniel owns a Clumber Spaniel named Porter. Daniel says Porter likes to sleep and hang out with her in her workspace, and they take walks during Daniel’s lunch. Photo courtesy of Nicole Daniel.

 

Math teacher Nicole Kezmarsky has a rescue dog named Louis. Kezmarsky says Louis provides background noise, and that he also has an ongoing fight with a UPS employee that parks outside her house. Photo courtesy of Nicole Kezmarsky.

 

Math teacher Mel Hefty, has a dog called Bo. Hefly says Bo is a quarantine dog. “We drove down to Richmond to get him in April when his former family could no longer care for him because of COVID related issues.” She also says that he hangs out with her while she grades papers. Photo courtesy of Mel Hefty.

Nov
16

By

Teachers adjust to distance learning

Category: News Tags: ,

Olivia Zavadil | Managing Editor

Math teacher Peggy Carnes celebrates Halloween virtually with her students. Teachers such as Carnes have had to find unique ways this year to keep students engaged during online classes.

This year has posed many unique challenges to our community, including the transition from in-person to fully distance learning. Students have had to figure out how to combat not only the lack of social interaction that in person school would normally provide, but how to successfully integrate into online learning.

The decision to send Loudoun County students fully online this year came after much debate and community backlash to the previously proposed two-day hybrid schedule.

While much of the response to the new system has centered around students and their adjustment, another vital group is often overlooked: teachers.

“Distance learning is not an ideal situation, but teachers are making it work with a lot of help from students who are also giving it their best,” said English teacher Arlene Lewis. Lewis, like many other teachers, has been forced to adapt to new ways of teaching and new styles of connecting with students.

Lewis nods to the fact that one of the biggest adjustments to online teaching is the difficulty of forming personal connections and bonding with her students.

“I miss the real interaction with students, and because so many students keep their cameras off, I honestly wouldn’t know some of my students if I saw them in my neighborhood,” Lewis said.

Similarly, science teacher Terri Moulds finds it difficult to read students when teaching virtually. “It’s so much easier in school,” she said. “You can see facial expressions, you can see confused students, you can see hands coming up, you have engagement. Those first couple weeks of school were hard because I just missed it so much.”

In terms of the schooling software used by the county, the technological adjustment has been no walk in the park either, according to many teachers.

“I did not anticipate that I would spend so much of my time troubleshooting technology,” Lewis said. “I am frustrated, as are students and parents, that the technology doesn’t always work the way it is supposed to on any given day. Teachers, including me, have been ‘kicked out’ in the middle of a Google Meet. The transition to online learning is difficult enough without that!”.

Even the most experienced teachers have struggled with the transition, and are constantly searching for ways to bring elements of the classroom into online learning.

“I try to do little things in my class, start geeky conversations about Marvel characters, ask questions about books students are reading, tell lame jokes,” said math teacher Karen Carr. “But the interaction is definitely missed.”

“This is my twenty-second year of teaching, and it is nothing like what I have experienced before,” Carr said. “From having to learn a ton of new technology to readjusting my lessons, to trying to find ways to interact with students. It is definitely different.”.

“I was not really surprised that we wound up online to start school,” said Lewis.  “I couldn’t see how they were ever going to coordinate hybrid learning even though I know that other school districts are doing it.”

There is some hope for the teachers and students that have been missing that interpersonal interaction. Starting in late October, Loudoun County Public Schools began sending back select groups of  English language learners, special ed students, and select elementary students. Secondary students are expected to return for the second semester, though with the pandemic as a still-developing situation, nothing is certain.

“The first few weeks were difficult,” says Moulds, “ it’s a trade off, but you know, we have to protect the community and I think that’s important.”

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