Now more than ever South Carolina’s teachers are showing why they are superheroes

We are living in unprecedented times: schools are closed, events are canceled and the “what if” scenarios are scary and worrisome. But the one thing that has remained constant throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is that my fellow educators are doing some amazing things.

In a matter of days educators across the country were asked to step out of their comfort zones; they were asked to completely redesign their teaching and learning experiences to maintain a sense of normalcy for their children while also meaningfully engaging them in a completely digitized environment. All of that has been accomplished during the past few weeks, and it makes me beam with tremendous pride to be a part of this profession.

What is most impressive about this accomplishment is that the transition to eLearning seemingly occurred overnight without all of the bureaucratic obstacles that typically precede major reforms in public education.

In this instance it was the teachers who, in true professional fashion, took the helm with little guidance or direction; it was the teachers who simply did what was best for their students.

Why?

Because teachers truly do know what is best for their students, and during this period they have been given the limitless feeling of empowerment to be innovative without facing the added pressures of state testing and standardized curriculum.

They are donning their superhero capes from inside their homes and pressing forward with an abundantly positive attitude. They are stopping at nothing to ensure that their students experience success.

In a democratic society, we should pay respect to these superheroes.

We should appreciate the amazing work that these teachers are doing right now.

But now is also the time for us to think about how we can sustain this momentum and energy once the bureaucratic obstacles undoubtedly catch up to this “new normal” and attempt to reshape the current state of teaching and learning experiences.

While no one will refute the need to maintain high levels of academic rigor in designing and carry out these new experiences, we must keep the most basic needs at the forefront.

While many students have the resources for digital learning, for example, many others still lack internet connectivity.

While many school and district food service teams are still delivering nutritious meals to children, many students are still going to bed hungry.

While many students have parents who have been able to work at home and make meaningful memories with them, many others will continue to wonder whether they are truly loved by anyone in their households — and continue to wonder if they will actually be OK.

Through it all educators will continue to manage these unique dilemmas with a remarkably positive impact. Why? Because they understand that you cannot teach the mind until you reach the heart.

Now more than ever all of us must realize this, too.

Trevor Ivey is a longtime Sumter County educator and current chief of staff for the proposed Sumter STEAM Charter School. Ivey was the Sumter School District’s Teacher of the Year in 2012.

This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 9:00 PM.