The week of May 4 through 8 is traditionally celebrated at Teacher Appreciation Week, and although challenged by the ongoing pandemic and associated restrictions, the administrators, parents, students, and community partners of BASD showed their gratitude in many ways.

Thanking Broughal teachers

Alicia Creazzo, the community school coordinator for Broughal MS, gave us a look at how teachers at one Bethlehem middle school were appreciated. On May 4, Principal Rick Amato and assistant principals Jose Sanchez and Nancy Zoudeh shared an “Ode to Teachers” that celebrated all the future contributions Broughal students will make, thanks to the teachers who instruct them today.

“You didn’t write a proposal to save an endangered species, and you didn’t drive a bus or fly a plane, or write a crucial bill that would someday become a law,” the ode begins. “However, you did spend time with some very important people.”

Each department is thanked. For example, English language arts (ELA) instructors are told, “Ms. Clements, Ms. Gammel, Ms. Keptner, Ms. Smisko, Mr. Troiano, Ms. Trostle, [you] read a story to a future attorney.” The paean concludes, “Our future is much brighter because of the hopes, dreams, and skills you have provided our prospective leaders.”

Community partners gave Broughal teachers $5 gift cards to a local coffee house, Lit Roastery, on May 5. May 6 brought videos of gratitude from students, shared via Flipgrid, and a virtual happy hour – with games and gift card raffles – took place May 7.

As reported in depth last year, Broughal is in the middle of a three-year Comprehensive School Improvement (CSI) program that aims to raise ELA and math scores by implementing research-based professional development for teachers in ELA, math, and content areas. In any year, a pandemic and remote learning would have been a challenge, but it’s even more important at Broughal for teachers to stay in close contact with students.

Eighth-grade science teacher Lynn Vento schedules Zoom meetings with her students from 4 p.m. through 10 p.m. each day to make sure everyone understands the day’s lesson, and to provide much-needed continuity.

“Our kids […] have so many unknown factors in their lives, and a lot of kids are living with trauma every day,” she says. “There are definitely days when […] I teach a lot of ‘human being’ skills, coping skills, emotional support.” Vento remarks that even before Teacher Appreciation Week, her students were contacting her regularly during the shutdown to tell her how much they miss school and miss their teachers, and she notes that the support of the district administration has been important as well. The superintendent at a district where Vento previously worked “didn’t know my name, didn’t know what I did; I think I met my principal four or five times. Dr. Roy knows my first name, knows what my kids are doing, and that’s huge.”

For sixth-grade ELA teacher Rose Ann Smisko, Teacher Appreciation Week came just at the right time. After weeks of distance learning and all the challenges that came with the switch, hearing her students voice their gratitude gave her a much-needed boost.

“You’re in this career because you love it,” she says, “and you don’t always receive thanks, so to get that, it was just so needed, especially in these times… [B]eing able to stop and listen to things like [Flipgrid appreciation videos] is really helpful… One student reached out, and she said, ‘I will never take school for granted again.’ And I thought that was powerful, for her to say it just like that.”

Echoing other Broughal teachers who noted the strong support of their administration, Smisko said, “My building is amazing. I am in love with where I work.”

Appreciation around the district

Creativity and imagination were obvious in the efforts of other administrators and families in the district. For example, teachers from Fountain Hill ES were surprised on Thursday with “bags of sunshine” created by the “Tiger parents” and hand-delivered to their yards or porches by community school coordinator Paige Hoffman. “Although there have been a lot of lemons thrown at you lately,” a note on each bag reads, “you have made some amazing lemonade!”

Inspired by the “Flat Stanley” series of books, building administrators at several schools created flat versions of themselves and sent them to staff to show their appreciation. Students created posters and videos, many of which were shared on social media. Parades of parents and students drove by Miller Heights ES teachers’ homes. Donegan ES teachers’ yards were adorned with “A Teacher Hero Lives Here!” signs. Bouquets and Target gift cards were delivered to Hanover ES educators. Principal Eric Fontanez and Marvine ES organized a drive-through lunch pickup for teachers.

The BASD Media department, headed by Tom Braun, produced a video highlighting students’ favorite teachers and shared it district-wide via Twitter (@BASDMedia). Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy created a video thanking all the district instructors, and Rep. Steve Samuelson gave a voice to the feelings of many in the district when he tweeted, “Teacher Appreciation Year!”