Coronavirus threat, too, shall pass

Truth be told, this week’s article presents a bit of a challenge.

Our general mission is to share examples of innovative and wonderfully creative educational happenings in classrooms across our district.

However, given the current situation affecting not only us, but having, literally, global repercussions, it would seem cavalier not to acknowledge what is taking place; wiser, perhaps, to take stock and cast an honest gaze upon where we are.

At the moment we are sailing in uncharted waters; our current status is entirely without precedent, and, quite frankly, we’ve likely all felt a quiver of uncertainty, if not outright fear, of all that’s happening; what it means and what the future holds.

Following state mandates from last week, education for our students is on hold for the next three weeks. Not only have all events and student performances been canceled, formal instruction is on hold. While most staff have been instructed to stay home, working from home where possible, by state directive, we cannot deliver instruction equitably across the board, therefore, our students’ educational lives are put on hold.

All this has happened overnight.

This jarring, new reality has allowed little time to reflect, but has required immediate action and intensive planning. While normal instruction cannot move forward, our food service professionals are still providing two daily meals for over 8,000 students, within safe, “social distancing” conditions.

Not a single decision in any aspect of the current state of affairs has been taken lightly. In fact, a pressing thought that’s continually occurred to me as this has all rolled out so quickly, is the incredible effort and enormous amount of planning it takes NOT to have school.

Of any heroic group that springs to my mind, educators are the ones who seem to epitomize that enduring American spirit. In general, straightening their shoulders, demonstrating a spirit eager to press forward, contribute, and, then, do whatever needs to be done in times of crisis.

A common thread that’s run through recent days was that of perseverance; this, too, shall pass, and we’ll get through it, likely tougher and stronger than ever. We do what we must as we lean in to the challenges before us.

There’s a poem, “The Race,” by D. H. Groberg, with a couple of pertinent lines at the end: “For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all. And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.”

Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the instructional technology coordinator for Clovis Municipal Schools. She can be reached at:

[email protected]