CAROLINA ALBAN-STOUGHTON
Director of Communication & Engagement
CARLSBAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Early this year, when the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce received the nominations of many outstanding educators for the 2020 CBAD Awards, no one could’ve predicted that months later, they would be abandoning their physical classrooms and shifting into distance learning. As the 2020 CBAD Awards also went virtual, the Chamber recognized four of these dedicated community members with Education CBAD Awards. With a new school year upon us, we caught up with them to see how they are preparing for this challenge.
“When I found out I won Teacher of the year CBAD Award, I felt extremely honored and ecstatic. I started dancing around the house in excitement. I am still filled with so much happiness and I’m extremely thankful to receive this award. I am honored, I was selected among so many amazing educators,” said Cedric Hart, a Physical Education teacher and beloved tutor at Jefferson Elementary who at the time had just transitioned into a new position at a different school. Coupled with that transition, came an even more disruptive one: the closing of schools due to public health orders. “On Friday, March 13, 2020 the news broke of schools shutting down before teachers were informed. I knew something was up when students kept getting pulled out of my classroom. The next thing I knew, my team and I were frantically putting together homework packets to attempt to disseminate at least a fraction of the information we were teaching over the next month,” recalled Hart, adding that he even wrote on the board “welcome back students” with the date notated in the corner as “April 13th, 2020”. Based on the information available at the time, Hart thought this closure would be temporary.
Army and Navy Academy Math Department Chair and teacher, Kacie Drake, says she was in shock when she heard her name as a winner of the Teacher of the Year Award. “It was a true honor to be among these fantastic nominees but to be picked as the teacher of the year was unreal. I am so grateful to be called to such a wonderful profession and humbled to be recognized for my efforts.” Even when she was not fully able to grasp the seriousness of the global pandemic, Drake says Army and Navy Academy was “way ahead of the curve when it came to distance learning. We were prepared to continue teaching online after spring break and I have to say it was a very smooth transition.” However, she says the end of the school year was still difficult. “The biggest challenge I faced was knowing that I couldn’t determine in real time if my students were confident with the new material. I also felt like I missed many opportunities to teach life lessons to my students since there was no in person interactions.”
Calavera Hills Middle School Science teacher Patti Langen had already decided to retire at the end of the 2020 school year. Winning the Teacher of the Year highlighted the end of a rewarding career in education. “I was filled with gratitude toward my principal, Michael Ecker, for the time and effort he put into making that (CBAD Awards) video and for nominating me. It made me feel so appreciated and hopeful that the years of work with my students somehow made a difference.” However, she never imagined her last school year would end virtually. “When the pandemic started impacting lives in the United States, I was hesitant to jump to the conclusion that schools would be closed. I was hopeful that our leaders would follow guidelines of our disease specialists in containing the virus.” With no signs of things getting under control, she was able to adapt into distance learning. “As we transitioned to remote online learning, my science colleagues and I created interactive digital lessons that guided them through the content. I was available for optional office hours and email during the week to check in or get support. It was great to have some students join me during office hours.” The public health shut down also meant scratching out plans for other fun school activities. “I was very disappointed when 6th grade camp and our Safari Park field trips were canceled. Those are such amazing experiences for students to connect with each other and with the natural world. I fully understood the need to protect our students though.” Luckily, moving online helped salvage some of the experience. “We were also able to get a Google Meet with scientists from the Safari Park to talk about their research in Kenya. Students had completed a citizen science project, collecting data for the Wildwatch Kenya project prior to the online session. We had nearly 100 students participate in the Google Meet!”
Carla Bos was in her second year as the Principal of Jefferson Elementary when she was recognized with the School Administrator of the Year Award. “I was, and still am, very humbled. I was speechless sitting in front of my computer. (And that doesn’t happen very often!).” As the leader of one of the most iconic schools in Carlsbad, Bos recalls the shut down caught her off guard. “I honestly was in disbelief on the Friday we ‘closed’. I did think it was going to be temporary and we would be back to ‘business as usual’ after spring break and the initial first weeks. It was difficult to wrap my head around this potential ‘new normal’.” As the end of the school year approached and reality sank in, it was evident the shut down would last longer than expected. For someone who thrives in being in constant contact with the community, this was particularly hard. “It was very difficult to not have a proper sense of closure. The daily interactions and relationships with everyone on site are such a big part of who we are as educators. Not having the traditional human interaction has definitely left a void. Of course, we did the best we could with Google Meets and virtual events. It was very difficult for our promoting students who did not get to experience the end of the year festivities that are seen as a rite of passage.”
Looking into the future
This “back to school” August will be different for all these incredible educators. Langen, now retired, canceled her plans to travel around Europe and is going to take some time to enjoy some local sights. “We have several short camping trips planned over the next several months. We have a small travel trailer that we enjoy taking on adventures!” They say timing is everything, and for someone who loves nature and sharing her passion with her students, the timing to retire couldn’t have been more perfect, even when she will forever cherish good memories with her students. “To be honest though, that much screen time does not align well with my personality. I enjoy moving, getting outside, and having face to face interactions with my students, and sharing my passion for science. I miss those moments with my students.”
Cedric Hart is now a teacher at Del Rio Elementary in Oceanside and is getting ready to tackle a different start to the school year. “I am innovating and adapting for the upcoming school year by reading, researching, and attending virtual seminars to be an even better distance learning educator. I am researching different ways to talk to students about equity and anti-racism, and enhance my skill set by having tough conversations with students when topics arise due to what is happening in the world.” Hart still looks forward to seeing his kids in person, even though he knows it would not be the same. “I miss seeing students smiling faces in-person, but I know even once when we go back their smiles will be covered by masks, and I won’t be able to celebrate students with high-fives and handshakes. Knowing that my students need me, is what keeps me going.”
Teaching math online is something Kacie Drake is taking very seriously. As the school year starts, she is preparing to ensure all of her students succeed. “I am starting to figure out how I can adjust my teaching style so that I can reach all of my students, especially those who need more one on one direction. I am planning to focus on more project based assessments so that my students have no choice but to learn the material. My biggest concern is being able to show my new students how much I care about not only their learning but also them as individuals.” In this trying time for teachers not only in North County but in the entire country, Drake is thankful for having a support system that keeps her going. “My family and friends help keep me balanced during these unknown times. Their support helps me focus on how I can adapt in order to bring a solid learning environment no matter what it looks like. My desire to help my students adapt and find consistency is what drives me to find innovative ways to move forward while teaching online.”
Being responsible for an entire school during this time is probably one of the biggest challenges a principal can face during their entire career. Carla Bos knows this, and is taking on this responsibility with the urgency it deserves. “I have been collaborating with the district as well as other administrators and site leadership. We are continuing to respond to the ongoing changes and working diligently to prepare equitable, rigorous academic experiences for all students. Personally, I have been sitting in every webinar I can attend and doing as much reading as I can. I am staying up to date on San Diego County Office of Education updates and resources. I am experimenting with technology platforms and resources to better engage and communicate with staff, students and families.” Her ‘open door’ policy is currently supported by technology. Bos is making sure she continues to build the relationships and trust that helped her gained the recognition of the community and still longing to see her students in person again. “I miss EVERYTHING! Their smiles and hugs. Their enthusiasm and wonder. Their pure joy and excitement for learning. Their innocence and belief that anything is possible. The students, staff and families keep me going. Magic happens everyday at a school site. I believe that being a principal is not a job, but a calling and I am committed to continuing to serve and support them.”
WATCH THEIR STORIES ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Teacher of the Year – Cedric Hart
Teacher of the Year – Kacie Drake
Teacher of the Year – Patti Langen
School Administrator of the Year – Carla Bos