‘Class Of 2025’ episode 4: Lessons from The Plague — new teachers in 2020

By Elizabeth Miller (OPB)
Dec. 15, 2020 12:53 a.m.

When the first year in a classroom ends very differently than how it started.

composite image of school photos from all children in the project, showing their kindergarten photo next to their current photo.

OPB's Class Of 2025 project has been documenting the growth of 27 students who started school together in Southeast Portland for 8 years.

Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB

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Being a first-time middle school teacher is challenging enough. But what if you add a global pandemic that completely changes the way you do your work, that raises concerns for the health and well-being of your students and their families, all while putting you at risk of losing your job due to looming budget cuts?

We’ve heard what middle school is like for the “Class Of 2025” right now. But this time, we’re focusing on their teachers.

Sadie Kenzler and Class of 2025 student Ava in class at Ron Russell Middle School in December 2019.

“Class Of 2025” is a six-episode podcast from Oregon Public Broadcasting. The podcast is hosted and produced by OPB’s Elizabeth Miller with editing and producing by Rob Manning and Elyssa Dudley. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR One app, and at opb.org.

The Class Of 2025 podcast was made possible with support from the Education Writers’ Association Reporting Fellowship.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: