Oliver Ames is back to school at last, although not without some bumps along the road. This year’s exceptional circumstances have required a lot of planning and coordination from teachers and faculty. Because of hybrid learning, teachers and other faculty have been forced to juggle remote and in-person students, in addition to basic safety precautions for coronavirus. I talked with a few members of the faculty to find out what they were thinking about the challenges and rewards from this entirely new model.
Everyone I spoke with mainly discussed about how excited they were that they could meet and connect with students in person. Lisha Cabral, the Superintendent for Easton Public Schools, emphasized that “it is critical that we have contact and in-person communication with students” and that the hybrid model provides an opportunity for teachers and students “to connect and have personal interactions.” Joanne Coffman, the head of the English department, agreed, saying that it “is great to see the students again in the classrooms even with their masks on.”
There were many factors that the faculty believed contributed to the initial success of reopening. Wes Paul, Oliver Ames’ principal, specifically wanted “to give a shout out to our Guidance Department who was able to make a challenging schedule work with so many variables.” He also highlighted that OA’s “teachers have done an amazing job preparing for a very difficult job and I am awe of their commitment to the profession of teaching.”
Mrs. Coffman also believed that the professional development courses helped teachers learn how to teach remotely, with programs “such as Screencastify, Jamboard, and Kami.” Learning these platforms help teachers who have to give remote assignments or get both cohorts involved in sharing ideas during class.
Of course, there are challenges. It’s hard to imagine such an intense undertaking going smoothly. Superintendent Cabral mentioned how hard it was for both teachers and students to adapt to the new version of school. From delaying school for a week to navigating the hallways, there are challenges for every single person at the school. But she hopes that “once we can be sure that what we have in place can continue to be safe, we can then move to adapt the way we are delivering instruction and the way students are receiving their education.”
Overall, school this year is different, sometimes almost unrecognizable. But all three of the faculty members consistently talked about how impressed they were with staff and with students. Through all the ups and downs of remote learning, everyone in Oliver Ames is in this together.