California Educator

June/July 2020

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Teaching in quarantine CECILIA DE LA TORRE FIFTH GRADE TEACHER at Paramount Elementary School, Azusa Educators Association I D I D N ' T T E L L my students my husband had COVID-19. I would have broken down. I didn't want things to be centered on me. I wanted to be there for them. I let my 28 students know that I'm proud of them for joining me on Goo- gle Hangouts. Luckily, all my students have devices and connectivity. My husband Jason works in a prison in Chino and is an assistant baseball coach at Azusa High School. When he tested positive, they told him to go home and quarantine away from me and our sons, who are in sixth grade and high school. He drove home, and I had 15 minutes to go into the master bedroom (with its own bathroom) and remove everything I would need for weeks. He went into the bedroom and stayed there. I opened the door 6 inches only to bring food. He used paper plates and plastic utensils. We texted or Facetimed to communicate. He had fever and chills, but wasn't coughing much. My boys and I were also in quarantine. Our friends and family shopped for us. The Azusa Educators Association and my principal, Antonio Flores, were extremely supportive. After a few weeks, my husband was doing better. He came out of the bedroom. But then he developed shortness of breath. He went to the hospital and then into the intensive care unit, because he developed pneumonia and blood clots related to COVID-19. We couldn't visit. He finally recovered and came home. Honestly, we have so much to be grateful for. My sons and I have no symptoms, and doctors say there is no reason for us to be tested. During all of this, I worked. I received train- ing from my district on how to teach online when my husband was in the bedroom, and began teaching while he was hospitalized. Teaching became my outlet and a distraction from COVID-19. Then there was my "mom life" to make sure my kids were doing OK. I got my kids set up with Chromebooks for their classes. I teach at the dining room table, and they do schoolwork in their bedrooms. I'm very organized, so I am able to handle all of this this. I am also pretty good with technology. Just show me what to do and I can do it. I was already using Google Class- room, and now use it to push out assignments and offer feedback. Teaching in a pandemic makes you feel hum- ble and courageous. I tell my students, "You are part of history. Your children and maybe your grandchildren will ask you about this. You say you are bored, but take it all in. You are awe- some. All of us are awesome." Teaching in a pandemic makes you feel humble and courageous." 21 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 0

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