Burnt-out school teachers say they are having to 'beg, borrow, and steal' to cover for missing staff as Omicron spreads
Teachers are spread even thinner than before, with some having to quarantine because of exposure.
In a school in New Jersey, one-third of the school is in quarantine because of Omicron.
Some parents are demanding virtual school, educators argue that's not the best option.
Omicron is now the most prevalent and contagious version of COVID-19 circulating in the United States, and it's causing quite a disruption in "hot-spot" classrooms.
Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday showed that the Omicron variant accounted for 73% of all coronavirus cases, which saw a 20% uptick in the past two weeks.
And because of increased exposure to Omicron, kids are once again being forced to quarantine, a reality that educators have been navigating firsthand. Here, they discussed how the latest surge in COVID-19 cases affected their classrooms.
Teachers are spread far too thin
Jamil Maroun, a superintendent in Manville, New Jersey, said that 14% of students and 20% of teachers in his district were out on Monday because of quarantine. He's had to "beg, borrow, and steal" to cover for missing staff. "There's a sub shortage in our district, in the county, in the state, and throughout the country. It's a big challenge, but thankfully, our teachers are all chipping in. They're incredible," Maroun said.
But in a town that's still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Ida (252 students were displaced by the storm), everybody's burned out and ready for the holiday. "Our teachers have dealt with the stresses from the hurricane, COVID, and now the Omicron variant. And they've done it gracefully," Maroun said. Still, everyone needs a break.
At the elementary school in Maplewood, New Jersey, where Michael Wojcio teaches, one-third of the student population is under quarantine, and a local middle school had so many cases, it's switching to virtual instruction on Tuesday.
"We had a spike a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving. Everyone just started getting sick with COVID. Everyone is supposed to be masked, everyone is supposed to be getting tested and getting checked and all these other precautions, but it still seems to be getting worse. It's just something you can't control," Wojcio said, and it's demoralizing to teachers. "Omicron's come so fast. Everyone's a little freaked out," he added.
Jenna Vandenberg, a high-school teacher in Everett, Washington, said that of about 2,000 students in her district, 90 had to quarantine recently. She added that "Omicron hasn't really hit" the district yet. Even so, she's concerned. "I'm definitely worried about my students, especially those who haven't been vaccinated, and their families. I'm worried about my own family," Vandenberg said.
Omicron and school closures
An assistant superintendent in Morris County, New Jersey, is doing a lot of COVID contact tracing, and they're scared. "It's tough. School is very important for our kids and families. It provides stability, resources, and allows parents to work. But there is also a need to be safe. It's such a tough balance," they said.
Teachers aren't alone in feeling overwhelmed. Parents are under pressure, too, Wojcio said. "Some parents are demanding virtual instruction because they don't feel safe sending their kids in," Wojcio added. While it's impossible to know how things may play out, he hoped that school would remain open in person.
"I just don't think remote instruction is a good way for kids to learn. They were all so happy to come back to school, and they are all doing so well in person. Kids need to interact and play and run and jump and be kids. I think if we go virtual again, you're just crushing a bunch of children," Wojcio said.
Maroun hoped to weather the Omicron storm without any school closures, as long as it's in his students' best interests: "We'll do everything that we can to keep schools open."
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