Coronavirus: Vanderburgh, Warrick teachers parade through streets to see their students
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Energetically blaring their car horns and waving while driving through the residential streets of Warrick and Vanderburgh County, area teachers and staff came together to visit their students after being away from them for more than a week.
Looking to interact with students outside their computer screens, Warrick County and Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. staff organized "wave parades."
Teachers, school administrators and support staff lined up their cars covered with heart-warming messages along their side doors and windows and drove around the neighborhoods where their students live.
Staying within social distancing guidelines, they cheered and waved signs from their car seats as students walked outside to see their teachers in-person for the first time since the closing of school facilities due to the coronavirus on March 13.
Jenny Schmitt, a third-grade teacher at Newburgh Elementary School, said being able to see her students, many she views as her own children, came along with a "whole basket of emotions."
"We were excited to see them, and sad because we missed them," she said. "Many parents were crying, too. We knew we would miss them, but not getting to say a proper goodbye made it even harder."
Nichole Freiberger, a first-grade teacher at Highland Elementary School, said the last day of in-person classes was a "whirlwind" of confusion for school faculty.
Uncertain if they would see their students again before the end of the year, Highland PTA President Alicia Boston pitched the idea of a motorized parade to school officials.
And, at Newburgh Elementary School, Schmitt sent an email to staff last week, asking if they wanted to meet at the school the following day and drive through the district. After receiving positive responses from them, more area teachers and staff joined the motorcade.
Originally scheduled for Thursday, Highland's parade was moved to Monday by Boston following Governor Eric Holcomb's "Stay-At-Home Order."
The two schools sent out Facebook messages informing families when the parade would take place and updated them before passing their homes to ensure they would see as many of their students as possible.
"It was amazing to see their faces light up when they saw you come around the corner," Freiberger said. She said seeing the kids hold up signs with her name and the names of other teachers warmed her heart.
Schmitt said the effort, while certainly fulfilling for every staff member that participated, made a larger impact on students, as many of them rely on local educators' presence for things outside of just daily lesson plans.
Janette Allen, a Highland Elementary School parent, said it was important for her daughter, Everleigh Allen, to see her teachers during the parade.
"It was emotional," Allen said. "She's a kindergartner. She loves school, and she's probably not going to go back this year. It's fun for her to see that her teachers really care about her and the rest of the kids."
As Everleigh's teachers honked their car horns and waved in her direction, she proudly cheered and raised a sign with her sister that read, "I (heart) HIGHLAND, Evie misses Ms. Randolph."
And though Ms. Randolph wasn't in attendance to see her personalized sign, Everleigh was still happy to see some familiar faces.
"Yes, I missed all of my (teachers)," she said. "I miss them very much."
With school staff organizing these "wave parades," Allen said their efforts speak to the love they have for her daughter and other students.
"It's just been evident and apparent that teachers at her school really care," Allen said. "They didn't just send home assignments. They are making an effort to see the kids and make them feel special. As a parent, it made me feel really good that they were doing that."
Schmitt said schools have already made additional efforts to maintain their connection with students in light of the extended school closures. Teachers have set up class Facebook pages and Zoom video conference calls, allowing them to communicate directly with students.
"I have told my parents that just because our school doors have closed, doesn’t mean that we have. We are still their teachers and will continue to navigate this new normal with them," Schmitt said.