It's official! I got my first dose of the COVID vaccine!
It is unreasonable to expect unvaccinated teachers to teach in person with students. The risk is too high, especially for us mature teachers or those of us with family members who have compromising health conditions.
Transmission rates among kids is low - but they're not in classrooms by themselves, are they? And they are riding the bus, going through the lunch line, working with paraprofessionals - they are close to adults who may be vulnerable to infection.
And even with masks and social distancing rules, it is impossible to keep kids 6 feet apart all day...and just try and help a student without getting close to them. A good teacher simply cannot stand 6 feet from a student and shout instructions. I sure can't do it.
I've been back in the classroom with students in a hybrid model this year. We started in September, but closed buildings and went to distance learning when the infection rates got high before Thanksgiving. In February we returned again to hybrid and we'll be face-to-face four days a week starting later in March.
We start with all the kids before I get my second dose, and that has me worried. Many of us will be teaching before the vaccine - if we we were lucky enough to get it - is fully effective.
I'm grateful that our district partnered with the county to get staff vaccinated, and is still doing so. I'm also grateful they ensured we could go and get the shots when they were available, no matter the time of day.
Safety of staff and students has to be the top priority in order for schools to reopen and remain open. Vaccinating every adult that works with kids in the school system will help make this a reality.
Check out my story here: Education Gets a Shot in the Arm
