April 2021 Advisor

VACCINATING

8 CEA ADVISOR APRIL 2021

‘THAN YOU, Sage Park Middle School seventh-

W hen CEA pushed to prioritize teachers in Connecticut’s vaccine rollout, union leaders also called for vaccines to be administered at school-based clinics, right in the districts where educators work. After CEA launched a major public awareness campaign and continued holding talks with state officials, Governor Lamont announced that teachers would be prioritized and school-based clinics would be established. Teachers

where she received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was available to all of the town’s educators. “That made it convenient and available quicker than if I had to be on the VAMS portal. I’m so thankful to CEA for what they’ve done to keep our school staff safe.” “There was no stress signing up,” said Plainville High School visual arts teacher Helena Pietri, one of more than 400 teachers and staff who received the Pfizer vaccine at school on March 5, with a second dose on March 26. Pietri shared that her husband, who is not an own vaccine elsewhere—an experience common to many other residents booking appointments through other providers. What’s more, appointments allowed elementary and secondary school teachers and staff to get vaccinated at times that would cause little to no disruption to their work schedules. “It was easy,” said Susanne Bajek, an elementary school teacher and the president of the Education Association of Plainville. “I didn’t have to take time away from my students, which means good, seamless instruction and continuity for our kids.” Fellow Linden Street School teacher Amanda Lynch, a building representative at her school, added, “It was super convenient, and it was nice that this was done not only with educator, spent 48 hours trying to schedule his

our staff but also our students in mind, because they are what’s most important.” On the same day in Darien, hundreds of educators, including Hindley Elementary School teacher and building rep Katy Gale, an NEA director and CEA board member, received dose one of the Moderna vaccine. “Thank you #DEA #CEA #NEA for making educators a priority,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “One done!” Meeting teachers where they are Windsor educators were among the earliest cohorts to receive the COVID vaccine in a school-based clinic, getting their first dose of Moderna’s vaccine at Windsor High School on March 3, where the gymnasium was converted into a daylong clinic. The feeling of relief and excitement was palpable. Among those getting that first shot was kindergarten teacher and 2021 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Rochelle Brown. “Today I feel a huge sense of relief,” she said. “Since the beginning of the school year, teachers have had a lot of ‘what ifs’: ‘What if I’m unknowingly infected and pass that illness on to my students?’ ‘What if one of my colleagues is ill?’ Having this vaccine means we’re all a little bit safer, and I know that I’m not the only one feeling that sense of relief. Also, getting this vaccine means that if we are exposed to the coronavirus, we aren’t going to have to quarantine and take time away from our students—and that is so important. It’s vital that students are able to remain in the building with us so that they can get the best educational experience.” The concept of parallel vaccination clinics held within or near schools was first proposed— and strongly encouraged—by CEA in talks with the governor and public health officials during the months leading up to this phase of the vaccine rollout. “School-based clinics make it convenient for teachers and other school staff to receive the vaccine without the scheduling and logistical challenges others have faced during the vaccine rollout,” said CEA President Jeff Leake. Leighann Tyson, a high school special education alternative teacher, agreed. “I have several eligible friends who are still struggling to find a vaccine location and appointment. With our school-based clinic in Windsor, I didn’t have that burden. I didn’t have to spend hours online.”

“GETTING THIS VACCINE MEANS THAT IF WE ARE EXPOSED TO THE CORONAVIRUS, WE AREN’T GOING TO HAVE TO QUARANTINE AND TAKE TIME AWAY FROM OUR STUDENTS— AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.” Rochelle Brown, 2021 Connecticut Teacher of the Year

could choose to be vaccinated at local pharmacies, hospitals, or other vaccination sites, but a parallel system of vaccinations— with supplies and

grade science teacher Mark Yocius, a 12-year veteran teacher in Windsor with a four-month-old child at home, echoed Tyson’s sentiment. “I definitely appreciate what our union has done for us, making the process so easy. I also think having their

appointments expressly for

teachers and school staff in their districts—would ensure that every single educator could be inoculated quickly and easily, without missing class time, without traveling long distances, and without the scheduling challenges confronting so many other residents. “CEA took the lead on getting educators vaccinated, and our members were the voices that made that happen,” CEA Secretary Stephanie Wanzer, a Cooperative Educational Services teacher, explained. “I, for one, have been in school full-time as a special education teacher since August. I have quarantined, I have had COVID-19, and having the vaccination gives me peace of mind going forward with the rest of the school year.” Wanzer said the school-based clinic in Trumbull

“ITWAS SUPER CONVENIENT, AND I WAS DONE NOT ONLYWITH OUR S STUDENTS IN MIND, BECAUSE THE IMPORTANT.” Amanda Lynch, building representative, Lin

teachers vaccinated gives our students some peace of mind.” Windsor High School Spanish teacher and building representative David Schultz put it this way: “I am up to my neck with teaching and school responsibilities, so to be able to come right into the gym, right in the school where I teach, and have my COVID vaccine taken care of with little or no preparation—that’s incredibly important. It’s easy to forget our priorities, but this—our health and the safety of our schools—is the highest priority. The presence of our statewide teachers’ union pushing for these vaccines and these clinics is truly appreciated.” A shot of hope Windsor Education Association (WEA) Co- President Jennifer Delskey, a second- grade teacher at Poquonock School and the mother of two students at Windsor High School, was happy to roll up her sleeve and see so many familiar faces everywhere she turned. “I am very excited for so many reasons. These clinics symbolize hope. This, for me—as a teacher and a parent—is a step to get back to normalcy. We’ve missed our students. We hate having to shut down buildings because teachers are getting quarantined, and this is just that next step forward to be able to

Windsor teachers David Schultz (above) and Leighann Tyson and Mark Yocius (below) were among the 800 school staff to receive the Moderna vaccine at Windsor High School.

Education Association of Plainville President Susanne Bajek, building rep Amanda Lynch, and high school visual arts teacher Helena Pietri elbow-bump to celebrate their first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine at Plainville’s school- based clinic on March 5.