Has it already been two years? Some people read that with a different tone. Some people read that with the feeling of, “Wow has it been that long already?” Others read it with a feeling of, “I can’t believe this is still going on?”
When the pandemic started two years ago, I was overwhelmed, along with everyone in the education field. We all needed help and support. There was not a lot of help initially. It was like flying a plane while you build it. We finally figured out how to teach online during that fourth quarter. After that school year was over, we knew that there was the possibility that we wouldn’t be returning to the classroom. Our school district decided that the online learning platform we had finally figured out, wasn’t versatile enough. They purchased a new online platform and teachers needed to be trained on how to use it. Over the summer, I was designated as the trainer for the new platform at my site. I attended trainings all summer with other teachers from across the district. The week before school started, I had to train the staff on how to use the new platform. I was attending virtual meetings at all hours of the day and night assisting teachers and helping them to get up and running. When we returned in person, we still had to have our content available online for students with extended absences. I ended up assisting teachers all year. In addition to being our online trainer, I also serve as a mentor teacher to new teachers. Those teachers had an incredibly difficult time navigating their first year online and in person. I decided to work with them and assist with online content and instructional strategies in the classroom. I enjoyed my experience assisting teachers during this difficult time. I felt I was making a bigger impact at my school. It made me realize that I can impact more students by assisting teachers. It changed me. It made me realize that I wanted to try to get a coaching position where I could help more teachers. I have recently realized this dream and for the first time in twenty-two years, I will not be returning as a classroom teacher. I will be an instructional coach at an elementary school. I am looking forward to working with teachers and students during the school day. I am looking forward to listening to what they need and being able to provide support and assistance.
I had always thought I would be a classroom teacher until I am older and grayer, but two years ago, that changed. Everything that has happened over the last two years has changed my perspective and my outlook on teaching. I still love being a classroom teacher, so now I get to work with teachers and students for the betterment of all! The pandemic changed me for the better. How has the pandemic changed you?
Image from thesidingspring.com
Sarah Kirchoff
Sarah Kirchoff is an instructional coach in Mesa Public Schools. She has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She began her teaching career way back in August 1999, when everyone was worried about Y2K. She did not even have computers in her classroom at that time! Since then, she has taught first grade for four years, preschool for three years, second grade for two years and kindergarten for twelve years. She has worked for three different school districts during her teaching career. During this time, she has been able to identify which grade she found to be the most enjoyable. Her greatest teaching passion is for kindergarten. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. She was teacher of the year at her school in the 2019-2020 school year. She became a National Board Certified Teacher as an Early Childhood Generalist in December of 2020. She currently serves on numerous committees at her school including school site council, the instructional leadership team, and the culture and climate team. She is a mentor teacher at her school and has mentored numerous interns and student teaching candidates. When she is not busy with school commitments, she spends time with her family. She has a husband who is also a teacher, and four children. Two of which are students at NAU and two that are in high school. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading books and spending time with family, friends and her two dogs. Children need a teacher that is always advocating for them, socially, emotionally, and academically. Sarah wants every student she encounters to realize their potential and she is willing to help in any way she can. The impact early childhood educators have on students reaches far beyond their younger years. Sarah wants to leave a positive impact on her students so they can continue to have wonderful educational experiences beyond her classroom and school.
Comments 1
I just used the copies I made 2 years ago before spring break! I refused to throw away the vocab packet I printed but never used. Last year, we were mostly online, so it sat for 2 full years and I finally handed them out 3 weeks ago. It was a weird time travel, and I definitely reminisced with my kids about what leaving for spring break was like before the world shut down.