Rays of Sunshine: Moments That Made Your Teachers Smile

This fall, we’ve all had an uncommon educational experience. We’ve needed to find creative solutions to counter difficult problems, and though it hasn’t been easy, we continue to push on.

When asked by her teenage son, Mrs. Lisa Clark, “How did you handle something like this?” She replied, “Honey — I haven’t ever been through anything like this; your grandparents haven’t ever been through anything like this.” And it’s true. These are times of nerve-rackingly uncharted waters. However, throughout the day, there are rays of sunshine at LCCTC that lighten the hour.

Mrs. Lyn McVicker Shaffer, English teacher, welcomes every glimmer of joy throughout the day. “Though I appreciate the daily hellos of spirit-finger waves and good-byes of finger heart signs on screen, my favorite moment has to be on the day we discovered that we could change our backgrounds in Google Meets. When I changed mine to a mountain scene, I mentioned, ‘Awwww…This makes me miss my family in West Virginia…’ to which one of my students exclaimed, ‘Don’t worry, Mc — I got ‘cha!” and soon, they were all swaying back and forth singing, ‘Country Roooooaaaads…take me hooooommmme’!” Overall, this is typical of our students; they care for their teachers. “They paused for a moment to make me feel better,” McVicker added. "That’s what I love about each and every one of them.”

Several teachers report that they often experience the daily Pet Parades before class starts. “I do enjoy greeting the pets that join my meet,” states Mrs. Donna Pasterik, biology teacher. “I have seen everything from dogs and cats to bunnies and lizards. The kids are proud of their fur-babies or, in the case of the lizard, scaly-babies and enjoy showing them off, even if they are being lovingly attacked during class.”

“It seems that there is always that one student who takes me on road trips to Grandma’s house,” laughs Mr. Brad Windhorst, STEM Teacher. At least they’re checking in and at least they’re doing their work!

Mrs Pasterik adds, “I also enjoy the grandparents that are interested in the new tech that their grandkids are experiencing. It must be so foreign for them to see them join a class from the living room.” It’s foreign to us, too!

Using today’s technology — cameras, interactive screens, online textbooks, videos — found and created by the instructors, LCCTC’s students continue to push ahead. Windhorst shares that “students are really enjoying the science lessons from the Mars Rover.” Because of assignments like this and many others, Windhorst reports that student engagement is pretty high in STEM.

This week marks the first week one-third of the student population is returning to their CTE courses for face-to-face instruction each day. However, for the other two days, it’s still virtual instruction for the shops. Creative engagement doesn’t just occur on the academic wing of the school.

Pete Montini, Electrical Occupations Instructor is proud of one particular group of students who are taking the opportunity to have his virtual help on a project they’re working on with their parents. It’s similar to projects they have completed with me during the school year — digging ditches and running wire to a shed, so they’re bring a bit of expertise to the table. “They check in with me and show me their work; I can give them guidance as I would if we were out in the field. This way of teaching isn’t my first choice, but it’s getting the job done.”

Kurt Miller, Machine Tool Tech Instructor states, “During at-home instruction, the kids are still learning; not in the way we hoped they would, and not how we want to teach them, but they’re learning.” He states that he’s able to slow down and really concentrate on vital knowledge-based skills they need to work in the industry.

Vet Assistant students continue to push through their lessons as they keep their hands busy. “When they came in to pick up their lunches for the week,” Ariel Yanak shares, “I had some creative projects for them to create: Kitty beds!” Students are knitting, crocheting, and tying off fleece to make blankets for any fur-baby that finds its way into the shop. “So far, they are really stepping up with their lessons and their creativity, and I’m really proud of them!”

Packing kits for students, Mrs. Jamie Jones, first-year teacher sent home mannequin heads and kits for the students to help them with hands-on practice at home. “There are all sorts of goodies in their kids, so they’ll be able to continue with our lessons,” she states. Of course this isn’t the first year that anyone could have warned her about; however, she’s in it for the long haul. Ready to take classes to further her teaching degree in the spring, she’ll be a virtual student, herself, so she gets the struggles.

“Maintaining high expectations is a challenge,” states fellow first-year teacher, Tim Barton. “With the help of many here at LCCTC, I’m learning a lot of strategies that are helping me discover how I can keep these kids doing some honest learning through online instruction.” Barton has been working beyond the basic safety lessons to honest book work. “They’re basically learning a lot of theory right now, so perhaps when they return, we can get them out into the shop for a hands-on experience.” It’s a lot of work, but he’s willing to adjust for now so that the kids can make a seamless transition into their skill work later.

“For me, the kids are checking in and pushing through as best as they can. They ask questions when they need, but mostly it’s to double check they got the right answer,” states John Goebel, AT Instructor. “They’re doing a lot more theory now than they ever did before, but I’ll demonstrate skills for them in front of the camera.” He goes on to say that if these kids are mostly hands-on-learners, but he states, “They’re not giving up. We’re all looking forward to when they can all get back into the shop together.”

And it’s not just the kids who are kicking it into gear. On a normal year, our restaurant trades students would usually for Thanksgiving dinners to serve to the families and staff, but there’s nothing normal about this year. Tasked with baking over 60 pies for the Peer Leadership Turkey Boxes, Jen Price, Restaurant Trades Instructor, would usually look to gather her student troops to get the job done. This year, she thought outside the box and invited the staff to lend a hand — and lend a hand they did. As a result, several kicked in to take home “pie kits” that will be baked, boxed, and returned ready for packing. “It was a lot of fun having other members of the staff stop in to help when they could,” Price comments.

There are just a few of the many stories that have become “Rays of Shine” here at LCCTC.