A Sense of Community: How COVID Affects Our Francis Teachers (by Maeve Kiley '22)

Maeve Kiley '22
The Coronavirus pandemic has left many teachers reevaluating their entire teaching method. From ZOOM calls to online learning, the American schooling system (which has been mainly consistent since the first American public school was founded in the late 17th century) has been completely flipped upside down. Some teachers have been in this career for over thirty years, spending those years getting comfortable with the school system, only to now have it thrown out the window faster than the toilet-paper supply dwindled. New teachers who are just getting comfortable in a brand-new environment now must gain experience in less-than-ideal circumstances. Everybody is feeling the weight of the pandemic, even if it’s not always recognizable. I wrote an article interviewing some SFHS students on their feelings during the pandemic, but I have yet to interview another fundamental part of this high school community: the teachers.
So, I gathered a few bottles of hand sanitizers and a disposable mask and set off to interview two SFHS teachers. The teachers I picked were two of very different teaching resumes; Ms. Salepkar, who only arrived at SFHS in early 2020, and Mr. Schuller, who has been teaching at SFHS for many years. While their subject may seem extremely different from one another (Mr. Schuller teaches Religion, Ms. Salpekar Spanish), they both teach a wide range of students and have both been affected by the extreme and tedious effects of the global pandemic. 
  1. How are you holding up during quarantine? What months were the hardest for you?
Salpekar: “I am doing alright! I’ve definitely been finding things to do to keep myself busy and getting stuff done around my house. I also adopted a puppy this summer, so that’s been fun. I really enjoyed being outside over the summer and going on road trips (safely!), so I think the hardest months for me were August and September – the transition back to school/work was definitely difficult.” 
 
Schuller: “I’m doing fine during the pandemic; most of my anxiety stems from watching my students struggle with their anxiety during these crazy times. My chief concern is when I head for home and wondering whether I’m bringing this home to my wife. We’re empty nesters now so I don’t have to worry about Sam and Evan (my kids). Hardest months? Probably last May during the tail end of the fourth quarter when I had a few students simply drop off the face of the map. They seemed to quit and failed to check in on a regular basis.” 
 
  1. Have you learned any new skills over these months?
Salpekar: “I played a lot of frisbee in the spring/summer and learned some new recipes! I made homemade chocolate eclairs one of the first weekends of quarantine which were really good.” 
 
Schuller: “Oh my! What haven’t I learned? In a Jungian model, every ‘light’ moment has its ‘shadow’ side and so the reverse is true. Dark moments have their ‘light’ side as well. I’ve watched as students who used to grumble and curse about having to be in school find a new and greater appreciation for being in school. Isolation has forced me to be more ‘contemplative’ and for that I’m grateful. I take longer walks with my dog and pay closer attention to the natural world and have caught up on a lot of my reading as well.” 
 
  1. Do you know anyone who has been affected by COVID? If so, how did it make you feel?
Salpekar: “I think the closest people to me who have been affected by the COVID virus have been students and faculty/staff at St. Francis. A handful of people I know from college have also tested positive, but many of them did not have any symptoms. Whenever I hear about people being affected by the virus, it definitely causes some anxiety for me, especially when I know that my own students are testing positive or have been in close contact with COVID. I also know that many people across the country (and the world) have been negatively affected by COVID financially and emotionally, which is very upsetting to me.” 
 
Schuller: “My brother and my sister-in-law had it, as did a bunch of guys I used to play softball with. Some have passed away as a result of the virus. I have friends across the country who have lost parents, not to mention many of my students here at St. Francis whose family members have contracted it, grandparents in particular.” 
  1. What effects did the coronavirus have on your teaching career?
Salpekar: “Well, I guess I’ve never really experienced a normal year in my teaching career yet! I’m actually kind of grateful for that because I have nothing to compare this crazy last year and a half to! It’s definitely been a whirlwind starting out my career with Coronavirus, but I am glad that I’m getting the opportunity to learn about so many new online resources now that I can continue to use in the classroom in the future.” 
 
Schuller: “It has thrown me for a loop. So much of what I do and how I do it is ‘relational.’  I feel that I need to have students in front of me to go back and forth on serious theological and psychological questions. It has proven hard for me to lecture down from the mountaintop. By that I mean I simply hate talking down to students and need to find out where they are at so I can tell them what I have come to know over the rugged course of my lifetime. In short, it has been hard. E Learning is NOT my thing, but I am learning.” 
  1. Best and worst part of online learning?
Salpekar: “The best part of online learning is that I can mute my students whenever I want in Teams! Just kidding! Even with all the hassle, I genuinely think it’s been really cool to learn about so many new online resources and be able to play online games like Quizlet Live or Kahoot even if we’re not in person. I think that worst part of online learning is definitely just feeling less connected to students and other faculty/staff at school. It’s also really tough as a teacher to find a balance between getting through as much content as possible and ensuring that I’m not completely overwhelming my students with assignments and new concepts.” 
 
Schuller: “The best part? You can’t catch or transmit COVID online. You also get to see people without their masks in Teams, so it makes it a bit easier to get to know your students. After two or three weeks, I’m usually on a first name basis with my students, we’re eight weeks into the semester and I’m still fumbling with these masked marauders! Maybe by Christmas? Worst part? My eyes are bugging out of my head by the time I get to sleep, and I swear I see that damn computer screen on the back of my eyelids! Now if I could just project YouTube on them.” 
 
  1. Does technology make you feel together in the community or more isolated than usual? Explain.
Salpekar: “It depends! School-wise, I feel like technology has created more of an isolation vibe; I notice students always on their Surface Pros when we have extra time at the end of class instead of socializing with each other and I think the same goes for teachers sometimes too. I’ve definitely felt more attached to my computer this year more than ever, which can feel isolating. When it comes to keeping in touch with friends and family, though, being able to use technology to have group calls or birthday celebrations has been awesome.” 
 
Schuller: “Most students know that I actually pride myself on being a ‘techno-idiot.’ That is, I fight the unquestioned implementation of most technologies. I’m a lifelong Roman Catholic and that has infused in me a ‘splendid recalcitrance.’ I am also a lifelong Ray Bradbury sci-fi fan and am reluctant to embrace most technological change just for its own sake. He writes that technology is only a glove and only as good or bad as that hand that fits into it. Like I said earlier, where there is great substance there is also great shadow. I’m having to watch how much time I spend online to save my eyesight. Yes, there is so much good in the technology, but so much potential for the bad as well. Think of atomic energy and how it could be a boon for humanity; instead we have weaponized it like we do with most scientific breakthroughs.” 
 
  1. How has the virus affected home life? Family? Friends? Etc.
Salpekar: “I think the biggest way the virus has affected home life for me is that I haven’t been able to go home and visit my family (parents, siblings, grandparents) as much as I normally would. I know that my family members and friends that are in school or jobs that have all remote programs are struggling with going stir crazy at this point!” 
 
Schuller: “My homelife has been greatly affected by this virus. I haven’t seen members of my family of origin in months. I come from a large family, 8 siblings, and I rely on them for so much, especially for laughs. It hurts not to be with them in the old ways. My wife Tracy worries daily about me catching COVID and bringing it home to everyone else. Most of my friends and softball buddies are of the same age and prone to complex health problems should we contract the virus. We have to be extra careful, always.” 
  1. From your perspective, how has the virus affected your students?
Salpekar: “I think the virus and all that has come with it has hugely impacted my students. I teach mostly upperclassmen, and I know that many of them are really struggling with the changes at school due to the virus while also having to think about their futures! I’ve noticed increasingly high frustration and stress levels in my students and while I know that a lot of that is because of their school workloads, I imagine that it also has to do with how the virus has affected their social lives and extracurricular activities. It’s really hard when things like sports seasons or favorite out-of-school activities just get stripped away because it can take away students’ consistent outlets to let out their energy and frustration that build up during the school day.” 
 
Schuller: “As I look at my freshman classes they seem to have been ‘flattened’ out with anxiety and depression. Don’t forget that this was the now legendary Class of 2020 that was denied so much of the sacramental aspects of graduation, not to mention, dances, field trips, excursions and theater productions that go with being an eighth grader and ultimately a graduate. My Juniors? They have had a bit larger taste of what it means to be a full-time student at St. Francis and seem to have been affected less. In short, it is, for the most part, business as usual for them.” 
 
  1. Have you seen (on average) grades get better or worse or have they remained the same during the pandemic?
Salpekar: “On average, I think grades in my classes have more or less remained the same during the pandemic. When grades do slip in my classes, it tends to be related to missing or late assignments, not necessarily poor grades on assessments. I think the hybrid schedule makes it difficult to prioritize for both students and teachers, which I’m sure could be contributing to lower grades at times as well.” 
 
Schuller: "Most students know that I’m a pushover when it comes to grades, so grades have always meant little to me. You’ve heard the term ‘Easy A?’ I think that might describe me. But, by indulging my students I’m hoping I provide a ray of sunshine or some insight into the heart of a God who continually offers ‘hope.’ So, because I grade easier than most teachers, I haven’t really seen a drop off and frankly, I wouldn’t blame anyone for slipping up during this pandemic. Now, the good old days will return shortly and sometime soon I’m hoping we can all look back on this pandemic and laugh. On a more serious note, I am truly indebted to our Guidance Department: Michelle, Bridget, Adam, Angelika and Jill along with Nurse Lyn Schmidt and Trainer Sara Anderson. They have done a marvelous job of keeping the student body healthy and whole and certainly deserve kudos from this community!  Nobody works harder, nobody loves harder!"
 
  1. Do you think things will ever return to the way they were before the virus hit? Why or why not?
Salpekar: “To be completely honest, I do not think that things will ever return (or at least not for a very long time) to the exact same way that they were before the virus hit. Simply put, this virus has taken such a tremendous toll on the infrastructure and economy across the world that it’s hard to even define what ‘normal’ is or was anymore. Even though being patient is hard, I think that we need to continue to be okay with taking small steps forward, as we are safely able to, in order to have the best chance of returning to some semblance of the way things were before. While I know that this virus has had many more negative impacts than positive ones on our lives, I sincerely hope that, moving forward, it will also create a sense of urgency and togetherness in communities when it comes to addressing physical, mental, and emotional health.” 
Schuller: “Nothing EVER goes back to the way it was. The only constant in this life is CHANGE. According to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, we are forever moving toward the Omega Point, that is the Reign of God. God calls all things unto Himself and this is his creation. That is why I am forever the optimist; the tomb is empty. I’m fond of this quote from Chardin, ‘We are one, after all, you and I. Together we suffer, together exist, and forever will recreate each other.’ The short version of all this theology is simply that ‘We’re all just walking each other home,’ (Ram Dass). I have a cartoon on my chalk ledge that forever reminds me of this simple truth. We as the ‘People of God’ will discover new and better ways of being together and will find new and better ways to lift each other up and carry each other forward into the Kingdom.” 
Studies have been saying that because of the virus, a third of students are falling behind because of online learning disrupting their usual education environment. SFHS is truly blessed to currently be using a hybrid setting which allows its students to participate and interact with one another and also grants the teachers an in-person class with their students. During this COVID pandemic, it is important to remember that everyone is in this boat together. Most teachers are sympathetic towards struggling students during this time. The majority of people agree that one positive of the pandemic is that humanity now has a sense of community which is important towards our survival.  
Group Survival Theory was first introduced by W.D. Hamilton in the 1960s and it rings true to our current situation - “Species (as a whole) tend to survive better when grouped together rather than going off on their own. The more people present, the more skills and talents can be utilized as well as a sense of community which many creatures (especially human) thrive off.” 
 

    • Photo: Ms. Salpekar (Mary Szalek '21)

    • Photo: Mr. Schuller (Mary Szalek '21)

St. Francis High School

2130 W. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone (630) 668-5800
Fax (630) 668-5893