Mrs. S, as she is known, has taught for nearly 30 years, including the last 20 at Longfellow, but this year has been quite different.

“We had some hybrid at the beginning, where they were here a couple of days a week and home a couple of days,” Shoukletovich said. “Then we were four days a week, five days a week–we’ve had a little bit of everything, so that’s been a challenge. I’ve tried to make a curriculum set up that is seemless.
Whether you are home or here, you know what to do either way. ”

Shoukletovich says it has been quite the learning experience for all involved.

“Everybody has had to work together,” Shoukletovich said. “Everyone has had to be flexible. Communication is key. Just learning a lot of technical skills–I had a some parents at the beginning of this that were like ‘what is a text box?’ We had to educate the parents. I had to learn a little more about technology and the programs we’re using. I was using them a little bit, now I’m using them all the time.”

“The kids were seamless because they are so tech savvy. They get it. They’re good at it, so I’ve learned a lot from them.”

One of the biggest challenges Shoukletovich says she faces is the shortened school day. Teachers have had to condense the material covered, but math and language arts remain a focus. Plans put in place early have helped the transition to a different looking school year.

“My co-teacher and I set our program up earlier in the school year, and we tried to spell everything out and make directions as clear and plain as we could,” Shoukletovich said. “Once they got into a routine, it was like second nature. Then if you were home on quarantine, you knew what to do. If you were here in school, you knew what to do. I was on quarantine for two weeks. My sub would come in, and my kids were like on auto-pilot.”

Shoukletovich says a team approach by all of the staff at Longfellow has been the key to a successful school year.

“We have leaned on each other,” Shoukletovich said. “Some people in the building have more tech skills, so they were instrumental in helping everybody else. It’s been a family, team approach here. Everybody is an advocate for everyone. We have all worked together, and that’s made it easier.”

In her nomination, Melissa Parker said, “Mrs. S. has handled remote and in person with finesse. My child is full remote and she is always available to answer any questions we have quickly and assist in any way she can. Remote learning is new to the teachers and I am thankful for her commitment.”

If you know of a Most Valuable Teacher, let us know. You can nominate a Most Valuable Teacher here.