The Montpelier Bridge
Union Elementary School. Photo by Carla Occaso
Ask any student at Montpelier’s Union Elementary School who Mrs. Kane is and they may answer, “She’s one of the specials.” At UES, the “special teachers” (officially the Interactive Arts Team) are those who teach P.E., music, library, or, in Kristina Kane’s case, art. In this year of COVID, they are partnering with classroom teachers to teach academic subjects in person using the pod model. In addition, these teachers create their own virtual lessons for all UES students.
Not every family can afford to buy art supplies, so Kane began by boxing up art supplies. “Equity is important,” she says, “So I sent home sets of colored pencils, crayons, and pastels to everyone.” Then she began to plan for the 2020–2021 school year. “Teaching virtually is challenging, but it gives you an opportunity to do something new, something fresh.”