Teachers Commended For Educating During Pandemic: Superintendent

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Michael J. Martirano knows how worried many unvaccinated teachers are about returning to the classroom amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The 35-year educator told Patch that he "can't imagine having to teach during a pandemic."

Martirano began his teaching career at the middle school level in the math and science disciplines, then advanced to becoming a principal followed by the superintendent's position. He credited HCPSS teachers for everything they've done to continue to educate their students despite all the hurdles they've faced.

"Our educators are truly amazing. When I was in the classroom, we didn’t have the sophisticated levels of technology that are available to our instructors and students today, but many of the same challenges that our teachers are experiencing during this pandemic would have been challenges at any time. I have been so impressed at how our teachers have been able to pivot multiple times during this pandemic and have found innovative and creative ways to instruct and engage students. It’s astounding," he said.

However, Martirano said he harbors some concern about the disconnect between educators and students that occurs in a virtual environment.

"Having students physically present in the school can make such a difference in the relationship between a teacher or staff member and a student," Martirano said. "I worry about the wellness of students and teachers alike and the mental anguish of having to continue to tend to classrooms full of students while simultaneously tending to your own needs and those of your family."

The superintendent regularly receives emails from teachers and school staff who miss their students, miss being in the classroom together and miss "experiencing the joy and growth of their students as they realize success."

"I also receive emails regularly from students who miss their teachers and having the opportunity to be together and support one another in the classroom environment. There are so many parts of the educational experience beyond instruction of content that are lost in a virtual environment and it upsets me to know that this longing to be together again radiates throughout all of our school communities. I look forward to having both students and teachers back together soon," he said.

Return to learn plan

Beginning in March, Howard County students will start returning to the classroom with a hybrid in-person A-group/B-group plan in which students are split into two different groups. The Howard County school board approved a return-to-learn plan after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and State Superintendent Karen Salmon said school districts would be mandated to open in a hybrid format by March 1.

The school district's estimated 56,000 students have been learning online since last April when the coronavirus pandemic prompted officials to shut its doors.

"Our teachers and staff have been exceptional throughout this pandemic. It has been nearly a year now since our school buildings first closed and they have had to navigate the immediate shift to virtual instruction, a more comprehensive delivery of instruction to start the 2020-2021 school year, small group implementation, and now a shift to hybrid instruction. They have proven to be resilient, courageous, and true professionals who constantly put their students above all else. Simply put, our teachers are amazing," Martirano said.

Howard County school board members approved in-person learning up to five days per week for students with disabilities, special learning needs, difficulty with virtual learning and English learners who have been identified by school officials. They have the option of returning to school the week of March 1.

Students in pre-kindergarten through second grade are slated to return to school via the hybrid model starting the week of March 15. Students in grades three, four, five, six, nine and 12th, along with career and technical education students, will fall under the hybrid model the week of March 29. Students in grades 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th will not return to the hybrid learning plan until the week of April 12.

Families are able to keep their students engaged in 100 percent online learning if they choose. If they wish to switch students to the hybrid plan, students will attend classes in person up to two days per week and engage in online learning the other days of the week.

According to the school district, one group of students will learn in person on Mondays and Tuesdays, while the other group of students will attend school in person on Thursdays and Fridays. Educators will be tasked with teaching both in-person and virtual students simultaneously. Wednesdays will be available for virtual help and homework for all students, as well as planning and training for teachers.

"As we return to our school buildings, we must continue to practice the proven health and safety protocols that keep us safe. We must continue to wear masks and socially distance for the foreseeable future. The reality is that it could take well into the 2022-2022 school year before everybody in our community who wishes to be vaccinated is able to receive it," Martirano said.

There have been staff members working in-person since the start of the pandemic, aiming to put food in front of the students who may have spent the day hungry, who depend upon meals served at school, among other duties.

"I want to specifically lift up the many staff members who have continued to work in-person since the start of this pandemic including our food services staff, custodians, operations staff and several others. They have quietly been superheroes, continuing to serve the needs of our students day in and day out," the superintendent said. "I am constantly in awe at the way our teachers and staff are able to keep shifting while remaining some of the best educators I have ever known. Of course, this shouldn’t surprise me as I have experienced this true professionalism across all our schools and offices since I became superintendent of Schools in Howard County."

Time to return to school

While it would be ideal to have all teachers and staff vaccinated against COVID-19 before school starts, that just isn't feasible.

"Unfortunately, we are only able to vaccinate staff as quickly as the health department receives vaccines and makes them available to our staff. It’s unfortunate that vaccinations are not able to be produced at greater volume and distributed more quickly to our local health providers, but we are beholden to the system as it exists. We will continue to follow CDC guidelines in providing all the other necessary items to mitigate health and safety concerns in our buildings and keep everybody safe," Martirano said.

The school district also will provide PPE and engage in mitigating precautions as detailed in its Bridge to Normalized Instruction document.

Individuals, families and educators across the country joined forces to launch a Change.org petition asking the superintendent to reconsider the opening date for school. On Feb. 16, an initiative called Cars Against COVID: Parents and Educators for Safe Schools met outside Howard High School and traveled as a caravan to the board of education's office to demand a pause in teachers and students returning to buildings.

"I have received many emails from teachers and staff expressing strong views both in favor of, or opposing the State Superintendent’s mandate, and I understand and empathize with all of their concerns. We all want to be back in our classrooms and offices as soon as possible. At the same time, I wholeheartedly understand the mixed emotions that accompany the state’s mandate and realize that it creates significant challenges for many of us. We must have staff in our buildings in order to instruct and support our students returning to school. I hear the pleas of those who personally have, or have family members, with underlying medical issues and are worried for their health and that of their loved ones," the superintendent said.

He advised that "each of us must make the best decision for ourselves and our families."

"To help us return in a manner that is safe and responsible, we have implemented a phased-in approach so that we may adhere to the state’s mandate while also ensuring that all our processes and protocols for ensuring safety are able to be followed and are effective. I encourage all our stakeholders to remain informed and engaged," he said.