Back to School, and Back to Masks?

By. Teresa Marchant

Every time I look at my newsfeed another article about masks pops up. Is it politics, safety, or a combination? Needless to say, educators and students are impacted by the policies made by local and state officials.

In Montana, schools have local control. Meaning that school boards are authorized to make decisions for their districts and schools. They have a difficult job to do and have asked input from the county health board, parents, teachers, students, and staff. For my district, masks are recommended for students and staff. Masks are not required which won’t make some people happy. However, as I write this article, their decision could change as case counts are on the rise in our county.  An emergency meeting may be called and they could impose additional restrictions or plans to ensure the safety of students and staff. 

Regardless of the decisions that are made for us, we will continue to do what we do best-TEACH!

You are the MacGyvers of Education. You can make anything out of a few paper clips, tape, and string. You are magicians and I stand in awe of you.  Here are a few tools to add to your creative Mary Poppins bag!

• Find easy to implement ideas from fellow educators. You can join the FaceBook Group-Teachers’ Lounge. This is a great place where educators can share ideas!

• Look for discounts and inexpensive ways to enhance your classroom and teaching.  For example on the Educator Marketplace you will find free resources from name brands like Crayola and Learning Resources.

• Unsure of how it will work for you? The Try Before You Buy program is a great solution. This will change the way you shop for clothing!

We will continue to press forward into another school year and make a difference in the lives of the students we teach. We love what we do and will continue to meet the stressful demands and use our “Super Powers” of teaching and creativity.