AnonymousBy Dr. Susan Salcido, Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools
2020: A year of downs, ups, backwards and sideways, to say the least. The year was full of reality that seemed unimaginable at this time last year. Far too many friends, family members, and neighbors lost jobs and closed businesses, and a staggering number of individuals lost their lives. The daily interactions we used to have, connecting us with people outside our homes, were distorted in major ways.
The weight of these nine months has been difficult to bear, and still, we are resilient. We adapt in admirable ways, and find light and silver linings—surprising brightness inside dark circumstances.
The 2020 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Michele Franz, Orcutt Union School District, made this reflection on 2020: “The silver lining of this pandemic has definitely been how our busy lives have quieted down. There has been more time to connect with my children, my husband and to reconnect with family and friends. The quiet has also allowed me time to seek new learning in all areas of my life—teaching, self-care, relationships, and more.”
Dr. Susan Salcido (courtesy photo)
When a year ends and a new one begins, we often look back to reflect on what has passed, and look to the new year with renewed resolve and optimism. This year, we all look forward to the time when the pandemic is safely behind us.
In that spirit, we sought the help of students, teachers, and school staff from several school districts throughout Santa Barbara County. We asked what silver linings have come from the pandemic, if any, and what they are looking forward to doing when the pandemic ends. Here are some of the responses from Carpinteria Unified School District, College School District, Guadalupe Union School District, Los Olivos Elementary School District, Santa Barbara Unifed School District, and Vista Del Mar Union School District.
“I really like bouncing on my ball while working from home,” said Clara, a student at Vista Del Mar Union School District. “I really look forward to see[ing] my friends. One of my favorite things is to ride the bus.”
College School District students also offered several silver linings and hopes for the new year:
“A silver lining for me during this pandemic has been that at school we have to wear masks and on cold days it keeps me warm,” said Mateo. “One thing I would like to do when the pandemic is over is go to every place that was closed. I would also like to rip my mask off, dig a hole, and never see it again.”
“I got a new puppy and he always makes me happy. When I’m sad, my puppy is always there to put me in a good mood,” Kristin shared.
“What I look forward to when the pandemic is over is getting to see my family! I miss them so much and we haven’t seen each other in such a long time. I was supposed to go to Mexico this year to see my family but I can’t with the pandemic going on. But it’s ok, I can see them next year when this is all over,” wrote Stephanie.
“I look forward to going back to normal school. I can’t wait to stop wearing masks and worrying about social distancing. I want to play on the playground with my friends,” said Makyla.
Carpinteria High School student Dianna said a silver lining for her has been “getting to be home to take care of my younger siblings and getting to spend lots of quality time all together as a family.”
Teachers and school staff shared similar sentiments and are looking forward to being together with their students in the classroom.
Said 2021 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Frank Koroshec, Santa Barbara Unified School District, “We now recognize more than ever how important our connection is with each of our students. I am very much looking forward to being reunited with my students to celebrate their accomplishments in person.”
Many teachers praised the skills their students displayed during this challenging year. “I have marveled at the problem-solving skills that students have equipped themselves with during online learning. They are often teaching me computer shortcuts and tricks. Their ability to troubleshoot issues has been encouraging,” said Jen, an instructional assistant in Carpinteria Unified School District.
“As a teacher, I look forward to having all of my students back in the classroom and engaging with them in person each day. Their positive energy and upbeat personalities are contagious, and being exposed to that every day is a big part of why I enjoy teaching so much,” shared Anthony, College School District.
“What I am most looking forward to is welcoming my students with a big hug each day as they come in the front door. And sharing a read-aloud without a mask!” said Heather from Los Olivos Elementary School District.
Carpinteria Unified School District teacher Amber said, “I am really looking forward to being able to give my students a real high five for all of the hard work. They have worked so hard, accomplished so much, and they have a really positive attitude about everything. I am so very proud of them all.”
“Social distancing has been very difficult because of the need for human connection. But it has also made me look for different creative ways of expressing kindness, patience, and compassion,” said Dolores, office manager, Guadalupe Union School District.
It seems that most, if not all of us, deeply miss in-person experiences with friends and extended family. However, as Dolores reminded us, it is the kindness, patience, and compassion of others that serve as a true light in this dark time.
Thank you to the students, educators, and staff for sharing examples of silver linings, and for helping to articulate our collective hope for a very happy, healthy, and fulfilling new year for all.
Do you have an opinion on something local? Share it with us at ed@edhat.com. The views and opinions expressed in Op-Ed articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of edhat.
Call me cynical, but save it Susan – the teachers and districts have really let kids down this year. It was doable, and they didn’t have the will to do it. Great lesson for our kids.
As per public health, it would be be safer and we’d have less cases if school were in session. We shut down schools and kept them closed and we literally all are worse off for it…
poppycock, duke. The schools did the right thing to keep the kids in a steady mode rather than opening schools and then closing/opening/closing/opening. They did that back East and now that numbers are quickly rising, they are shutting down for the foreseeable future. Too many teachers and student groups have to quarantine. SB county, Just be patient. Fortunately, the school leaders are listening to the medical community, as they should.
And by medical community, do you mean Public Health…?
https://www.independent.com/2020/12/16/distance-learning-taking-toll-on-santa-barbara-unified-students/
Below is the notable quote, but uhh… it’s weird that you are so certain that the teachers are actually listening to the medical community. (Since they obviously aren’t).
““I come to you with data that I didn’t know until this morning and I wouldn’t know until ahead of time,” said Susan Klein-Rothschild with the Public Health Department. Klein-Rothschild was referring to the unpredictable turns of the pandemic and that recent data shows it is safe to open schools and that students are more likely to follow guidelines in school than out of school with friends.
And from what little has played out in Santa Barbara Unified so far, it appears true. There has been no COVID-19 transmission on any campus since small cohorts and athletics have been allowed to resume in person”
So… you are completely wrong. Which is ok… and funny how confidently wrong you are! The science says we’d be safer with kids in school. Considering where current grades are with kids (they are all Cali g behind) and how having kids out of school is making everyone’s life worse… all the teachers accomplished this year was cash checks and MAKE SB WORSE, LESS INTELLIGENT AND LESS SAFE!
Duke – can you post a link explaining how everyone is safer with kids in school? Thanks – TJ
Here’s the local public health statement:
https://www.independent.com/2020/12/16/distance-learning-taking-toll-on-santa-barbara-unified-students/
Also (As per the CDC:) “Working with state, tribal, local, and territorial health officials, schools can also play an important role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring that children have a safe and healthy learning environment.“
In essence, as we see… kids are out and about…life Continues. In school though Kids are washing hands, Distancing and being monitored to the point that it’s a safer environment.
I have completely lost respect for Santa Barbara County public school administrators and teachers who hide behind their self serving unions. Teachers need to get the vaccine and their butts back in school so that kids can get in person learning, socialization and athletics. Shame on all of you. If you don’t want to go back to work, then fine – stop taking a paycheck. And to the two teachers who were eating at a restaurant (prior to them being shut down) talking to each other about how they love staying home and laughing at how easy their Covid lives are – you both are embarrassments to your teaching profession. There are front line health care workers who are doing their jobs day in day out while their kids suffer because spineless teachers and administrators have zero accountability. Private schools can figure it out because if they don’t, then no one is getting paid. Funny how money is a simple motivator. 90+% of people who are adversely affected from Covid are elderly and unhealty people. So if you are a teacher who falls into this category, then we should just pay you to stay at home. Else get back to work!!! Wear a mask and social distance like any other person who goes to work each day. “Dr” Susan your words are meaningless.
Teachers are working much harder right now trying to develop and apply distance learning while dealing with the complexities of remote management of the children, not to mention their ungrateful parents.
No, they really really aren’t working harder! And, as per public health, HAving kids out of school is less safe. So the teachers are the only winners here! Their job is easier and takes less time. Everyone else… kids aren’t learning, parents are struggling to work and COVID is spreading faster/easier. Thanks teachers union and the school board .. you have made the world (and Sb!) a worse place!
But good job everyone re-electing the school board! They took millions of dollars to reopen and then… didn’t! I guys all our kids are failing/struggling together so they all became less educated together… but what a disaster! Sure would have been nice to have Had 3.5 months of school this fall like all the private schools… and school on Monday…
But good job everyone re-electing the school board! They took millions of dollars to reopen and then… didn’t! I guess all Of our kids are failing/struggling together so they all became less educated together… so we got that going for us… which is nice! Sure would have been nice though to have Had 3.5 months of school this fall like all the private schools… and ya know… school on Monday… like all the private schools… and public school that teaches admins and teachers kids…
No one knows what is best, as it is a NOVEL virus and everyone, globally, is scrambling to deal with it. It seems to me that many other countries do better because they have more community cohesiveness and buy-in to do what’s necessary to control transmission.
Better decisions could’ve been made, but we did not have the information with which to make them.
And EVERY decision made by national, state and county would and will be criticized.
Sounds like discussion of moderation on Edhat.
So so tired of never-ending and never-solved problems of life… How do we humans keep going. We are amazing.
Yep…without the anonymous Edhat spell checker we’d all be lost! Thank you for your tireless and invaluable work!
Kids can and do get it. You you are right about that! You do however have the opening of schools completely backwards! As per the cdc and public health, there is less transmission with school in person than out!! IN essence, having remote school is adding to our transmission in the county!! Having schools closed is making all of us less safe!!
That conclusion is a non sequitur.
Fauci and the cdc disagree with you… Schools being open is the better and safer option!
In essence you are choosing the current chaos and hodgepodge of neighbors, camps and Kids just wandering around to a supervised setting. You aren’t seeing spread at any of the dozens of local schools open… its from gatherings. And not just holiday gatherings… it’s the daily gatherings of kids who would normally be at school with supervision. You (along with the school board and teachers union) are making a choice to make things worse and less safe… thanks!
I love the immediate downvote!!! Are we downvoting Fauci…the CDC…Me…or all three????
It’s rather silly to go anonymous Considering how many times you’ve posted that …
The funny thing is though… we might not know the best answer/solution, but we truly and definitively know the worst: EXACTLY WHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD DID!!! Waste millions of dollars on a worse education that made everyone’s life worse and everyone’s life less safe! So yeah… we don’t alway know the best path… but the school districts did every single thing wrong!!! Definitively! Again.. schools restarted elsewhere as they realized it was safer… having kids in school helps slow the spread! It took till 5 days ago for governor newsome to realize that and change the criteria And make it easier for schools to reopen. Dr Fauci is pleading for schools to open as well. All you keep schools closed people are hiding from science to the detriment of us all!
Duke, I hear many of your points but I don’t think the decision process about in-perso school is as cut and dry as you’re making it seem. This is from the CDC yesterday https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/decision-tool.html
I quoted that very article yesterday! The most notable part of it (to me) was:
“Schools play an important role in children’s educational achievement, health, and wellbeing. Working with state, tribal, local, and territorial health officials, schools can also play an important role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring that children have a safe and healthy learning environment.”
TJ – taken together… it does seem pretty cut and dry to me. If we aren’t making matters safer (and are In fact perhaps even making things less safe), what possible justification is there for keeping schools closed? Tests scores are wildly down and obviously everyone is struggling. Add in the potential fact that’s it’s less safe… what rational justifies closure?