COVID-19 closures prolong teaching certification

by Kobie Adams
edited by Brendan Neal

As Senior student teacher Jalen Benoit cleaned up the books in his 6th-grade classroom at Overlook Middle School, in Ashburnham MA, he never thought that the last two weeks of his eight-week teaching assignment in a sixth-grade class would be brought to an immediate halt.

The voices of his students greeting him in the morning, with a smile and a “Good Morning Mr.Benoit” are only memories now unsure when he will return to his favorite class, he waits for the day he can return to teaching.

“This has been difficult to do as there was a gap where nobody knew what was going to happen,” said Jalen. A period of confusion during the transition from in-person classes to online learning caused added stress on both, his student teaching process and certification.

Although accommodations have been made to allow him to participate in online learning, and continue to student teach, the certification tests he must take have been canceled till further notice.

“I can’t take any of my certification exams due to the fact that all testing facilities are closed because of COVID-19. So essentially, once my student teaching is done, I will still graduate with my degree but will have to wait to become a certified teacher in the state of New Hampshire because I cannot take those exams,” said Jalen.

Jalen, continues his student teaching work from home, building daily plans for students to participate in. Like many other seniors, waiting for graduation and attempting to make sense and continue life throughout this pandemic. “Hopefully this clears up and testing centers reopen soon or there becomes an alternative way I can take these tests so I can get my certification. For now, though, I am just going with the flow.”

Kobie has been staying on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has allowed him to observe the virus and the results from a different perspective. Looking at how it has impacted the people in Rindge and neighboring towns

Kobie Adams has been able to catch up on a lot of reading and is trying to stay focused on school during these crazy times.