BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. -- On Monday, their first day back to work, teachers at Bay St. Louis-Waveland Middle School weave their way among shipments of desks, piles of sheetrock and teams of workers on their way to a meeting in the cafeteria.
With just a week to prepare for the return of students on Nov. 7, all but four teachers have returned. For many here, it is the first time they’ve seen each other since Katrina hit. It is a bittersweet reunion. As Principal Carolyn Barcelona speaks to the group, the raw emotion is apparent. The teachers careen from laughter to tears and back.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” she tells them. “Please, in the face of that work, don’t lose sight of our primary function here, and that is to take care of one another and to take care of the students who come in. They need us as never before."
For most of the teachers, it is the first time back to the school—which was almost new before the storm filled it with floodwater. Although cleaning and restoring the walls and floors is well under way, it will be a long time before they are able to replace what was lost -- the library, the computers, teaching materials -- in short, everything it contained.
“When I made it to the school building, my heart just broke,” says Vice Principal Myron Labat. He vows to the teachers it will return to what it was. But in the meantime, there’s nothing in their classrooms.
For many of these administrators and teachers, living in FEMA trailers, going home at the end of the day will bring little relief from hardship. Seventh-grade special education teacher Shannon Blalock prepared for Monday by going to a discount store to replace some of her lost clothing. She moved into her FEMA trailer on Sunday, even though it still doesn’t have power, water or sewer hookups.
She says she is looking forward to seeing her students when they return next week.
“It has been difficult not knowing where my students are. … I think it will be good to be back together as a group. Just being able to see people is comforting.”
Wildly contrasting meetings
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I truely admire these people. I am a 6th grade teacher and I cannot imagine trying to teach in those conditions. I do understand what the teacher meant by it will be good to all be together again. These students become your family. You love them almost as much as you love your own children. It would be scary to not know where they were or how they were.
Laurie, Columbia, MO (Sent Nov 2, 2005 10:57:49 AM)
Many websites have been set up for these teachers to use to begin to compile replacement materials, but with little or no access to technology the teachers affected by hurricanes cannot reach those sites. I myself would be more than willing to send any of my materials to a teacher in my discipline, but I have no idea where to send things. Like everything else, if someone were to organize a supply/ demand project, many of these needs would be met. Below is just such a website, and though it is not mine, the creator of the site wants it to be used.
http://www.geocities.com/ourhive/teachershelpingteachers
S. Savage (Sent Nov 2, 2005 11:44:24 AM)
The hardship is just begining for many of the teachers along the coast. With very few places to live many families are not living in their school districts they were before Katrina, some are out of state completely. The result is a drop in the student population.
With this drop in students there are many cases where there are more teachers than required by law, in those cases some teachers and probably all assistants will find themselves unemployed in the near future. My wife is a teacher and her district is looking at cutbacks.
Here we are not able to get building permits to rebuild yet while we wait for some goverment entity to get their act together. So there is no chance of an increase in student population.
I know the damage is overwhelming but we must move forward with building permits right now in order for people to move on with their lives.
It is upsetting that the whole world is behind you to rebuild and help in anyway and one piece of paper is stopping all this.
Shawn, Pass Christian, MS (Sent Nov 2, 2005 11:48:10 AM)
I can't imagine goign so long without your "kids" We've been out of school for a week and a half and will return tomorrow. Good Luck on reopening day!
Ellen Elias, Miami, FL (Sent Nov 2, 2005 11:59:54 AM)
God Bless our Teachers, what saints you are! There is no doubt that seeing you again will help the students find some normalcy in their lives again. My prayers are with you all.
Jennie, Port Richey Florida (Sent Nov 2, 2005 1:53:14 PM)
After Hurricane Ivan roared through our city last year my kids were ready to return to the normalcy of school. It meant things were starting to get better. Plus its a new group of people to be able to talk about what they went through with.
Remember it does get better, everyday, everyweek. It gets better.
Chris, Pensacola, FL (Sent Nov 2, 2005 3:00:43 PM)
Your story characterizes the greatness that is America and the actions of the teachers demonstrate for everyone the best of America. The hardship is truly felt by all, and especially by those in government who work daily for the benefit of all Americans and especially those less fortunate folks that have been hit by this truly devastating catastrophe. We are very fortunate to have a president who in the abscense of a solid first response by FEMA has had the leadership to effectively reprioritize the efforts of government. He is a man of true character, a leader, a man that believes in America in all her greatness. May God continue the United States of America and the George W. Bush administration.
Nelson Rothschild (Sent Nov 2, 2005 3:15:08 PM)
I teach in a small private school. I'm sure that just seeing the students will be a bitter-sweet time. It will be the first time together, the sweet memories. It will also be the first time to realize some will not be returning, the bitter grief. If there are specific items that are needed and have an address to send them to, I will try to organize some small relief.
Mark, Erie, PA (Sent Nov 2, 2005 3:34:31 PM)
Having lived in Biloxi for two years and going to school there in the 10th and 11th grade, I hope and pray your recovery will be quick and as painless as possible. I teach 6th graders math now in my 14th year and know how "comforting" the classroom is for your return to a sense of normality. God Bless all of you in the Gulf Coast and please know the rest of the U.S. is watching and sending help.
Pete Vaggalis, Lakeland, Georgia (Sent Nov 2, 2005 4:10:24 PM)
Only other teachers truly understand what it is like to lose all the materials in your classroom. Living in the Gulf Coast, I know "there but for the grace of God go I." There is much I can't help replace, but I can send money to a school c/o "Any Teacher" to help buy pencils, paper, paper clips, staples, etc.
Rosemarie Morris (Sent Nov 2, 2005 4:12:39 PM)
My son is a teacher and football coach in Slidell, La. The school that he taught in has been destroyed, students and teachers that are left now share time with another school in their district. Rebuilding schools and finding a way to keep the good teachers who are left, should become a priority of both the state and federal goverment. It's time that education in Louisiana and Mississipppi are given the opportunity to be brought up to par with other states in this country!
Art LeCompte (Sent Nov 2, 2005 5:59:50 PM)
If any of you need any Pre-AP or regular world history ideas, lessons, etc. feel free to email me and let me know. Most I have in MSWord format and can email them. Some are only in print, so I can mail them if you need them. My high school in Houston has absorbed over 100 displaced Gulf Coast students, most from New Orleans, and if any teacher from the Gulf Coast needs any materials, email me also, and I will try to get some sent to you from my wonderful coworkers.
Jody Janis (Sent Nov 2, 2005 6:12:00 PM)
Crabapple Middle School in Roswell, GA. has organized an "Adopt Bay-Waveland Middle School" Project. If anyone in our area wants to donate, we will make sure the supplies get to the school. We have received a Wish List from the teachers. If you would like more information, my email is dickenson1@fulton.k12.ga.us
Laurie Dickenson (Sent Nov 3, 2005 1:17:08 PM)
I am the principal of Enon Elementary in Ohio. We "adopted" North Bay Elementary School in Bay St. Louis. Although we sent a number of supplies to get started, I am sure it was just the very tip of the iceberg. You can find information about contacts and needs on the Mississippi Department of Education's webpage. One of the earlier posts was right...many of these schools/teachers don't have internet up and running yet, so aren't able to access many of the offers of help. For the contact/needs information, go to:
http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/Katrina/help/needs.xls
Tammy, Enon, Ohio (Sent Nov 3, 2005 10:33:25 PM)
If you would like to help the teachers in Hancock County contact Judith at tchr2tchr@yahoo.com regarding how to help. You will receive a flyer telling you how to send donations directly to the teachers/schools. Sonations for the kids can be sent ,too.
judy, Richmond, VA (Sent Nov 19, 2005 6:41:53 AM)
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