Be Patient. Be Kind. Be Thoughtful. Be Impactful.
Tips for Maintaining Student, Teacher, and Parent Mental Health During this Crisis
By Errica Dotson-Hooper, Manager of the Teaching and Learning Center, HCDE
As we begin to settle into our new normal of social distancing, I want to share a few key ideas to keep in mind that will allow us to successfully navigate the path forward. Everyone, absolutely everyone has been forced to halt their existence and make a swift about-face, pressing forward with new marching orders. And while overall, we have fared well, it has not been without its challenges.
A casual peruse of social media would provide a glimpse into the mindset of school leaders, teachers, parents, and even students. What is clear is that we are all working incredibly hard under immense pressure to do our parts. Also apparent are the anxiety and frustration being felt by all. However, I would like to challenge us to, instead of putting others in their place, put ourselves in their place. Let’s consider things from all angles as we judge the effectiveness of online learning during a global pandemic.
For a moment, consider the following points of view.
Superintendents
Superintendents are literally having to balance the interests of employees, parents, and students whose preferences oftentimes directly oppose one another. These very political decisions are often being made under the very heavy weight of scrutiny and intense pressure. One bad decision could affect the livelihood or the very lives of many. This is hard, especially when there is no playbook or precedent for this work.
Be patient with superintendents as they navigate through this.
Principals
Principals began the 2019–2020 school year with energy, excitement, and beautifully-crafted mission statements with the sole intention of providing the best possible educational experience for all students. However, figuring out how to still accomplish these goals in the middle of a pandemic, while students are at home, is difficult. How do you effectively serve students equitably when they are at home? How do you nurture and train your staff to stay dialed in when they are also under intense pressure? This is difficult.
Be patient with principals as they figure this out.
Parents
Parents have often relied on the community village to assist them in rearing strong, healthy children. And without warning, that support system has been shaken, leaving parents to be all things to their children at all times.
Online classes are great. But having to be the in-home principal and teacher’s aide, all while cooking, cleaning, working from home, and trying to keep everyone calm is a difficult balancing act.
Will I get laid off and if I have, how will I keep food on the table? How can I smile when bills are mounting? How can I ensure my child is learning if I struggle with literacy? And why is there so much homework? I may as well be the teacher! This is intense pressure.
Be patient with parents as they figure out their new all-encompassing role.
Teachers
Teachers have spent many days and weeks pouring into the lives of their students, creating a culture of safety and sharing in their classrooms. However now, their classrooms are physically empty. Concerns about their students’ well-being overtakes them as they begin to find new innovative ways to teach. Teachers worry about their jobs and if they are being effective.
But how to do this while trying to manage their own lives? They are on the frontlines of this new effort, but no one is asking their opinion. Parents are upset about the assignments and are complaining about having too little or too much work despite their best efforts. Everyone else knows what’s best. That’s tough. Especially for the teacher who may have struggled a bit this year. And what about those teachers who are parents also? Planning all week to teach and then have to spend equal efforts teaching their own children. They are tired but trying.
Be patient with teachers.
Children
Children fully understand the rules and requirements of a school campus. But how does that work when your classroom is now in the living room?
What psychological pressure it must be to deal with the loss of social interaction as well as the opportunity to exist as an individual away from parental influences.
And what about the students who required extra time and assistance. How will they get that? The student that thrives in structure with the support of caring teachers, how are they doing? Not to mention, if the student is in a home with multiple family members, limited food options and support, how will that student thrive? And all this independent work is too much. Students learn best by doing in the presence with others, not staring at a screen for 3+ hours per day. This is difficult.
Be patient with children.
These are just a few of the challenges that we are all facing. If we consider the other person’s position, it will be easier to extend grace. Let’s keep the lines of communication open and be kind to one another. We are just getting started.
Errica Dotson-Hooper is the Manager of Teaching & Learning for Harris County Department of Education. A native of Los Angeles, California, she is a graduate of Howard University (BA), Stephen F. Austin State University (MEd) and Dallas Theological Seminary (CGS-Christian Education). The Teach for America alum (Houston ’02) has worked in education for over 17 years in a variety of capacities serving staff and students in HISD, CEP, KIPP New Orleans and KIPP Houston. She is also church and organizational leadership strategist. She is a loving wife and a mother to a 5-year-old daughter.
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