Educators share their feelings on returning to in-person instruction

Amira Van Leeuwen | Staff Reporter

Imagine all children and teachers wearing masks. In classes, a clear sheet of plastic separates kids from their deskmates. Children are lining up for recess separated by six feet of space for social distancing so they can avoid catching a virus that can lead to severe medical complications and in some, death.

Well, in 2021, that is no imaginary scene, but real life.

Separated by six feet and sheets of plastic, students and educators returned to in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year amidst a pandemic. Teachers have had to navigate teaching students behind a mask and thermoplastic polymer to keep themselves and the students they teach safe.

Abbott signed Executive Order GA-38, which forbids local government entities from requiring individuals to wear face masks. Days before the 2021-22 school year, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra announced a mask mandate. On August, 12, San Marcos CISD approved a mask mandate with their Board of Trustees, going against the Governor’s orders.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have yet to authorize children under the age of 12 to get vaccinated. However, the vaccine could be cleared for children 5-11 within the next couple of weeks.

SMCISD Executive Director of Communications, Andrew Hernandez, says that the district’s number one priority is the safety of students and staff and has worked to alleviate stress brought on by the pandemic.

“Everything has been thrown at our students and staff over the last two years, and they just find a way to adapt to today’s society, to make sure our students are successful,” Fernandez said.

SMCISD has implemented remote conferencing in the case that a student is diagnosed or has tested positive for COVID-19, so students do not miss a lot of instruction in a short period of time.

Unlike SMCISD, other schools in the surrounding areas, like Hays CISD, Wimberley ISD and Dripping Springs ISD have kept mask-wearing optional.

But as school districts moved further along into the school year, schools started closing.

Hays CISD was the first school to close a campus due to COVID-19 cases just two weeks after the start of the 2021-22 school year. SMCISD followed suit, by closing 3 classrooms just two weeks after the start of the school year. Then on September 15, Tobias Elementary School in Kyle temporarily closed due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Hernandez Elementary school Speech Therapist Emily DeCarlo has been in education for 10 years and helps with children’s ability to say different speech sounds. DeCarlo says it’s difficult when students are wearing masks.

Instead of wearing surgical face masks, students and speech therapists are using window masks that have a clear piece around the mouth area so students can see how she says sounds and words.

“We’re doing the best we can and it’s working,” DeCarlo said. ”The kids are still fun and energetic children and they want to be here and they’re having a great time and they’re keeping their masks on.”

Other educators, like Associate Professor at Texas State Omar Sanchez, don’t feel at ease returning to in-person instruction. Sanchez, who has been teaching for 18-years, would feel better if there was a mandatory mask mandate.

“I think students and professors are being put in a bind because of the lack of mandate,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said he had difficulty with a student last semester, even when there was a mandate. He struggled to get her to wear her mask during class.

Sanchez describes Texas State’s role in mitigating the effects of the pandemic as “supportive.”

“Professors that are more vulnerable have been more able to teach online and they’ve given up some leeway. Within their [Texas State University’s] authority, they’ve been accommodating,” Sanchez said.

As the school year continues, schools will continue to update their COVID-19 dashboards and students and teachers will continue to teach and learn behind a surgical mask.