We’re highlighting a teacher every Wednesday as a part of the #RedForEd campaign.

Every year is a great year to celebrate our teachers, but this year has shined a bright light on the flexibility and compassion of our incredible staff.

Today we’re highlighting Mrs. Melissa Walker, a math teacher at Sarah Scott Middle School.

How has your job changed due to COVID?
I have had to adjust how I teach. Learning and using technology has proven to be a challenge and I continue to struggle and learn things all of the time. COVID has proven a struggle for the kids and adults to connect with each other. We miss that human connection but hopefully we will begin to understand the importance of each other as citizens of the earth.

What is something that people don’t understand about your job?
I don’t think that most people outside of education understand the commitment of educators to their students. I remember someone asked me when I might have more kids and I said I already have over 100 that I love and care for on a regular basis. The other thing that is tough for educators is that we often don’t see the difference we make in our student’s lives. I had a young man come up to me and hug me a few years ago to tell me thank you. He said you believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself.

Why do you love VCSC/your school?
Many people know that I retired from teaching once. But I never really retired, I was a caregiver for my family and my husband. I don’t regret the time that I was not teaching as I was caring for my family and helping them through to the end of their time here on this earth. But shortly after my husband passed away I was notified that I would be placed on a COBRA health plan that was very expensive so I started to apply for teaching positions when Mr John Newport called and asked me if I would be interested in working at Sarah Scott with the math teachers as a support for struggling students, I jumped at the opportunity. When I walked into Sarah Scott most of the staff did not know about my family circumstances. But I felt like I was home. I had worked with most of the math faculty before and it truly was like coming home.

Be sure to check back on #Staffurday–Saturday, that is–as we recognize members of our non-teaching staff.

Every Saturday, we highlight a non-teaching staff member on our Facebook and Twitter (@vcsc_teamvigo) account, turning Saturday into #Staffurday to introduce you to some of the people who make school happen!

Every year is a great year to celebrate our staff, but this year has shined a bright light on the flexibility and compassion of our incredible staff.

Today, meet Ms. Nichelle Campbell-Miller, the social worker at Sarah Scott Middle School.

Be sure to check back on Wednesday as we highlight another teacher for #RedforEd Wednesday! We’ll continue both campaigns through the end of the school year.

Based on improving internal and community COVID-19-related data, the Vigo County School Corporation is working to move all middle and high school students to a four-day-per-week in-person learning schedule. Under this plan, Monday will still be a remote learning day for all middle and high school students, and all students who chose in-person learning this year will attend school Tuesday through Friday. The plan has been developed with consultation from the Vigo County School Corporation COVID-19 Task Force, the Vigo County Health Department, and several local healthcare leaders.

Middle school students will attend school four days per week starting on Tuesday, March 2. High school students will start a four-day-per-week schedule on Tuesday, March 9. The plan was approved in Monday night’s board meeting.

The move to more in-person learning for middle and high school students is focused on improving the academic success and mental health of students. The district will retain Monday as a remote learning day for middle and high school students to continue to practice remote learning and to allow for contact tracing for weekend cases.

“This is an opportunity for us to refocus on our mitigation strategies,” said Dr. Rob Haworth, superintendent of schools. “Our continued defense against the spread of the virus at school coupled with lower community spread has brought us to this day, and we must continue to be safe.”

Student mental health continues to be a concern. In January 2021, the district saw a 83% increase over January 2020 in school-based crisis assessments. By February 10, 2021, the district had already reached the February 2020 total for school-based crisis assessments.

The Vigo County School Corporation has an additional tool to combat the spread of COVID-19. The district has begun testing symptomatic staff members–who are still staying home when symptomatic–using BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests. 

The district has studied districts with large high schools like Brownsburg, Avon, and Plainfield–schools with students who have attended school 5 days per week–and has concluded that community spread, not educational model, is the largest driver of cases in the school setting. Other large districts who have been in an A/B schedule at the secondary level like Bartholomew County and Seymour have already announced similar plans to move to full in-person instruction. The district continues to see minimal spread within school settings, including at the elementary level where students attend each day. While quarantine numbers may increase, the district and schools will develop the best possible plans for high traffic situations like lunch.

“We support the idea of a staggered return to in-person learning for middle and high school students as community case numbers and local hospitalization rates continue to hold steady,” said Dr. Darren Brucken, Vigo County Health Commissioner. “The benefits to students in regards to academics, mental health, and interpersonal relationships with our teachers is undeniable. Continued mitigation strategies of distancing and masking will be strictly observed, and we will continue to monitor community case numbers and work together to contact trace cases.”

All schools within Vigo County will be monitored, and staff availability will continue to be the most important indicator of when a school may need a period of remote learning.

Rules for Vigo County School Corporation athletic events will not change at this time, and each participating athlete will still be allotted 4 tickets per contest.