Buying school supplies. Prepping lesson plans. Cleaning and setting up a classroom. Planning out a whole school year of guiding, inspiring, and keeping little learners safe. The back-to-school season for teachers is no joke under the best of circumstances, but this year is a whole other level. With COVID-19 levels on the rise again, the back and forth on masking mandates, and wondering when younger kids will be approved to get vaccinated (please, universe, let it happen soon!), teachers are facing more uncertainty than ever.
We talked to 13 teachers from around the country to find out how they are really feeling as the third COVID impacted school year begins. Read on for a reminder of why it is so important to thank a teacher this fall!
Terrified
“I am terrified. This is actually my first year as a full-time teacher. I graduated two years ago but didn’t feel comfortable starting a teaching job last year. I thought this year would be better but I’m really not sure it will be. I will feel a lot better when younger kids can get vaccinated.” — Mandy D., Saint Paul, Minnesota
Rocky Start
“Well, I’m already back. We started the first of August and it is off to a rocky start for sure. I teach first grade and almost all of my kids were distance learning last year, so this is the first time they’ve actually been in school, so we are having to do all the kindergarten transition stuff this year in addition to trying to start first grade. There has been a lot of crying so far.” — Carolina W., Gilbert, Arizona
So Political
“This might be my last year. I’ve been teaching for 17 years and I’ve never dealt with so many abusive parents as I did last year and I’m tired of people making everything political. I feel like everyone was so eager to get kids back to school (and I understand why) but they also refuse to do things to make it safer for me to teach. The vax rate in my area is like 35% and masking is not happening. I love to teach but I shouldn’t have to risk my life to do it.” — Name withheld by request
Happy To Be Back
“I can’t wait to go back! I taught distance last year and it was hard. I’m excited to be back in the classroom and, because I teach eighth grade, I think the majority of my kids will be vaccinated, because our state is being pretty strong on that. So I feel safe enough to be back in the classroom.” — Olivia T., Killington, Vermont
No Trust in a Red State
“I’m in a deep red state and, to be honest, I don’t trust my school or the parents anymore. I’m actually transitioning to teach in an online charter school for the year. Maybe longer, depending on when this pandemic ever ends. I love the kids but I don’t trust parents to keep them home if they have COVID and I live with someone with an autoimmune disease, so I have to be extra careful.” — Name withheld by request
No More Masks, No More Problems
“I feel ready. I think we were too cautious last year and we really didn’t see any significant outbreaks in our school, so I’m glad I don’t have to try to police mask wearing and social distancing this year — news flash, second graders don’t know how to keep themselves 6 feet apart and the mask rules were a joke. Let’s get back to normal!” — Annie E., Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Worried About Delta
“Oh man. It’s going to be so weird. We lost one of our teachers and one of the lunch ladies to COVID last year and we still have parents throwing a fit about mask wearing. I’m not sure what to expect, but I hope it goes OK. I’m glad to be in person. I mean, I’m a little nervous, too. But I’m hoping we don’t get hit too hard by delta. I really don't want to have to mask up for another funeral” — Name withheld by request
All Over the Place
“I’ll be teaching fourth grade this year. I’m mostly wondering how I’ll meet the needs of all the kids. We had some kids who were distance all year, some who were hybrid, some who started distance and then came back into person and some that just disappeared, kind of. I think the amount of learning and skills they got in third grade is going to be all over the place, so I think we’ll be looking at weeks of figuring out how to catch some kids up.” — Kate K., Saint Paul, Minnesota
Uncertainty
“Delta, delta, delta… everything is going to depend on delta, I think. There is already so much back and forth. We were going to be no mask, but now we are doing masks. I thought for sure we won’t have to do any distance stuff, but things are getting bad here again, so maybe we will. I just hate the uncertainty.” — Heidy E., Wheaton, Illinois
Burnt Out
“I feel burnt out and we haven’t even started. Last year was really hard. I felt like people really showed how much people don’t value teachers. We’re not a day care center. We aren’t just a place to stick kids so parents can work all day. Maybe having to do distance learning will make the parents more grateful to us this year? We’ll see.” — Tracy R., Altoona, Iowa
No Worries Right Now
“It’s going to be fine, I think. I hope! I actually had COVID last fall (it was awful but I’m fine now) and I’ve had my vaccines, so I think I’m pretty safe, health wise. I had the option to move to teaching in my district’s online school, but since I already had COVID and I live alone, I decided to let someone else take that slot instead.” — Name withheld by request
Parents Are Risky
“I’m in a small private school, so I teach PE and I’m the school nurse. Our families run pretty conservative and most of them didn’t really follow the official COVID protocols last year. If COVID hits here, everyone will get it, I’m sure. I think I’m one of the few vaccinated teachers. I wish people were smarter about the risks but I feel like I can’t talk too much about it.” — Name withheld by request
No Plan
“It’s gonna be a crap circus. Our district doesn’t have a plan. Hoping for the best isn’t a real plan, but it feels like that is where we are. I’ll be stunned if we don’t end up in distance learning again in the fall. If this year is as much of a mess as last year, I’m done. This could be my last year.” — Name withheld by request
