April 2021 Advisor

VACCINATING

APRIL 2021 CEA ADVISOR 9

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SCHOOL-BASED VACCINATION CLINICS GIVE TEACHERS BEST SHOT AT HOPE, HEALTH, SAFETY

give the kids what they need—which is their schools back and their teachers back. I have a high school senior at home who is thrilled to be back at school.”

ITWAS NICE THAT THIS STAFF BUT ALSO OUR EY ARE WHAT’S MOST

nden Street School, Plainville

The school-based model, she added, made everything seamless. “Just the fact that this is a huge clinic style and that

CES teacher and CEA Secretary Stephanie Wanzer and CES special education teacher Doug Russell are all smiles after receiving the single- dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

400 of our teachers in one day are able to go to one central location and be able to do this with their colleagues is amazing. I saw a mother and

NEA Director and Darien teacher Katy Gale rolls up her sleeve for the vaccine at a school-based clinic.

“CEAWAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF GETTING EDUCATORS VACCINATED, AND OUR MEMBERS WERE THE VOICES THAT MADE THAT HAPPEN.” Stephanie Wanzer, CEA Secretary and CES teacher

there is respect. I chose to take on a leadership role in my union in order to give back to the teachers who pushed me forward as a leader.” Brown added, “I’m very thankful to CEA and WEA that we have school-based clinics, because that means we’re still able to teach during the day and choose an hour or a time that is feasible for us without having to interrupt student learning. I’m hoping more school districts will be able to do this as well. I know of other people who have been trying to get appointments on their own, and some of them are looking at appointments all the way in May. Having these clinics today means I will be able to get back to business that much sooner and continue with the learning and growing that’s so important to our students.” “I’m so proud of our teachers,” said Delskey. “They have stepped up and sacrificed so much.”

daughter together. It’s a great feeling everybody has right now that they’re able to do this and not have to go through VAMS and drive miles or wait months to get to an appointment. It’s a big relief for so many of us.” Hundreds more teachers and school staff received their first dose the following Wednesday—March 10, with second doses distributed on March 31 and April 7. Delskey explained that the clinics would not have been possible without the efforts of WEA, CEA, and an open line of communication with district administrators. “WEA has had a seat at the table in this process, and nothing has ever been off the table.” Now in her second year as union president, she said, “I’m a big believer in problem- solving and relationship-building with WEA, CEA, and administration. Sometimes our conversations are difficult, but there is laughter, and

CEA, Coalition React to CDC’s New Social Distancing Guidelines

The CDC released new physical distancing guidelines in March, lowering the recommended minimum to three feet between students in classrooms. The Board of Education Union Coalition, which includes CEA, issued a statement cautioning that now is not the time to let down our guard. “Moving to a three-foot requirement would mean dramatically reducing a safety standard that many school officials have been unable—or unwilling—to meet, putting our students at greater risk,” the statement read, in part. “We must also continue to ensure everyone in our schools is wearing masks, washing their hands frequently, and limiting the sharing of supplies, and that schools are being properly cleaned and disinfected.” The Coalition also stresses the need to replace or upgrade schools’ HVAC systems—something that new federal funding has made possible.

Windsor Education Association Co-President Jennifer Delskey gives a thumbs-up to the extra protection a COVID vaccine provides for those in in-person learning environments.