Teachers on parade

A caravan of cars filled with teachers paraded their way through Newton neighborhoods Thursday morning to wave at and send happy tidings to students who have been stuck at home after local schools locked their doors last week.

Kiddos waited on porches and front lawns until the mass of cars drove past their street. Led by a school resource officer patrol vehicle, the teachers rolled down their windows and called out to students by name, greeting them with smiles.

Several teachers had even posted friendly messages like “We miss you” or “Miss Scotton LOVES YOU!” onto their cars or had stuffed animals lean out windows. In turn, the students presented their own, literal signs of appreciation.

It was a positive sight and one Woodrow Wilson Elementary School teachers were looking forward to that morning. Jen Elbert, an instructional coach, said a number of teachers across the globe have been holding “teacher parades.”

Following the self-isolation and school closures, the staff at Woodrow Wilson decided they could throw a parade, too. Elbert said principal Todd Schuster emailed parents about the parade and asked for addresses to create a route.

"It went from there," Elbert said, minutes before the
parade left the elementary school's parking lot. "Within two days I think we had up to 85 families that wanted us to drive by. So it's going to be a pretty big parade."

Teachers have been away from students since March 17, and they are not expected to return to their classrooms until April 13. Elbert misses seeing the kid’s faces and being around her fellow staff members.

“It’s been hard,” she said. “So seeing the kids standing on the sidewalks and just waving — they’re going to love this. When else do teachers get to drive by their house and see them? This doesn’t always happen.”

Dallas Vander Pol, a school counselor at Woodrow Wilson, and Elbert pitched the idea, which was well received by administrators and staff. Vander Pol wanted the parade to be a reminder to students that teachers are thinking about them.

“We miss them and we can’t wait to see them again soon,” Vander Pol said. “I miss the joy that the students bring us and being able to see them and love on them, (and) just give them hope and provide them with learning opportunities.”

Vander Pol certainly believes the teacher parade will parade will help in that regard. The extended break cut into the school’s usual routine. Taking part in something fun, like the parade, may ease students and teachers, Schuster said.

“They just want to see them,” he said. “We’re not going to be able to hug them or anything, but we just want to see them. We want them to know we miss them, and I think the kids are going to return that, too. They’ll be very excited.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com