Snow day 2014: 280 teachers, administrators share overnight experiences
Last week, teachers along the 280 corridor faced chaotic conditions as the greater-Birmingham area morphed into complete gridlock. But throughout the Hoover and Shelby County School Systems, educators, staff and administrators stepped up to the plate to care for both stranded drivers and students stuck in their schools for the night.
By BILL HARPER, Principal, Chelsea Middle School
As night fell on Tuesday and the snow ended, I realized that few — if any cars were coming past the school on County Road (CR) 39 from Chelsea. That is the main route for many of our parents hoping to pick up students.
When I realized that the backup was probably at the intersection of CR 39 and CR 47, a group of teachers volunteered to load up the one four-wheel drive truck we had with sand from the athletic storage area and together we drove to the intersection, which has a steep incline as you turn up CR 39 from the light, and spread a truck-load of sand across the iced road.
This unclogged the bottleneck and enabled many parents to pick up their children that night and many more folks to get to their homes further down CR 39. Some worked without gloves or overcoats, but we all realized a sense of community and interdependence not normally felt.
Those teachers were Carol Vandergeest (it was her truck), Gary Black, Justin Bright and Lee Hibbs.
By KELLY FAILLA, Teacher, Inverness Elementary School
I often remarked to my students that I wondered what it would be like to sleep at school, (many already think I do!) I can honestly admit that now I know what a night at school is really like.
When the first swirling snowflakes started to dance to the ground on Tuesday morning, I told my class to “bundle up” and we would go out to play in the snow. They were elated and ran to the playground to catch snowflakes on their tongues and revel in the white stuff that covered their hair and eyelashes. Little did any of us know that was only the beginning of an unplanned event.
As minutes turned into hours, some children went home when parents could brave the icy roads to get them. Dinner was lunchroom pizza, then some fitness activities, a movie and bedtime. Four of us first-grade teachers tucked our little ones into their makeshift sleeping places on a classroom floor. We gently covered them with their coats as they became quiet and perhaps a little apprehensive, though none of them seemed worried at all.
Those sleeping snow angels were the heroes to me. They were separated from mommies, daddies, soft pillows, fluffy blankets and favorite stuffed animals. The trust they had in us was heartwarming.
My colleagues and I didn’t sleep much because we were worried that one of our campers might wake up in the middle of a dark, strange room, and be afraid.
We teachers did something we rarely get to do during our working day. We talked and listened to each other. I learned about three of the lovely ladies who teach first grade with me. I discovered that one teacher’s father died in Vietnam when she was just a toddler. I heard about a teacher’s mom who took a part-time job after she retired so she could afford weekly calls to her only daughter. My friends learned that, even though my mother has been gone for 10 years, I often pick up the phone to share a moment of joy with her before I remember.
The most amazing epiphany I have had from this unique experience is that the children, and, we teachers, really talked, laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. My students’ favorite activities during that unpredictable day centered on things they could touch, see, hear and share with each other. The connecting cubes, the puzzles and especially those old standbys, crayons and paper, were the chosen prizes of the day. No one asked for an iPad or a video game. Human companionship was what we wanted the most.
Maybe it takes a blanket of white to warm our hearts and share our daily dreams!
By ASHLEY BEAVERS, Teacher, Inverness Elementary School
As a veteran teacher in Shelby County for 21 years, I can say this was a first. I can still clearly hear the announcement that buses were not running and students that had already been sent were returning to us. That was major, and little did I know what would follow.
Parents began storming the office to pick up their kids as the snow continued to fall even harder. Children were so excited as they realized the perfect snowman was not just a vision but a reality. As for me, I looked at my co-worker, Michelle Price, and said, "This is really happening, isn't it?!"
She knew what I meant, smiled, and said, "Yes it is! It's a school sleepover like none other!" I knew I'd be staying since I live in Chelsea and knew Double Oak Mountain would be impossible. There was nothing to do but laugh and make the best of our situation — not for us, but for the children left there because parents could not make it.
Supper included hot pizza, steamed veggies, and salad for the teachers. The remainder of the night included a movie in our newly renovated library, books read and even exercise in the gym with our PE teacher Mike Daniel. Without our leaders and their organization, Christine Hoffman and Jeff Norris, things would have fallen apart in a hurry. Also, thanks to secretary Stephanie Philpott who stayed cool and calm with a smile on her face even at 2 a.m. I cannot thank you enough for all you did to keep things running as smoothly as possible throughout the whole experience. You are the best!
Some of us had only one student staying the night, while others had as many as five and some had nine. We all felt they were ours to share and take care of. Keeping them all entertained, busy and fed was key. Yes, we were exhausted and thinking about our own families and their safety all the while, but one thing was certain — we were in this together, warm, safe and fed.
As the night rolled on with ENT's having to come twice for a sick first grader and total strangers needing a warm place to stay, we stuck together and just laughed. At about 2 a.m. I finally slept (I use that term loosely) on the floor in my classroom on top of three yoga mats with my own child snuggled by my side. There were five other boys in my room all safe and sound with us. We had gathered pillows, blankets, towels and any other thing that worked to stay warm and comfortable.
In the morning, we talked over breakfast about when or if we could go home. It looked bleak since ice covered the roads and it was still so dangerous. We were even beginning to plan the day out for the kids as we thought it would be another all day shut-in with our students. Somehow, students began leaving being checked out by parents around 10 a.m., and by noon many had been picked up.
My husband, Jeff, traveled two hours from Chelsea to arrive at school around 1 p.m. We were going home!
By 3 p.m. Wednesday, all students were safely home and our remaining faculty/staff could finally leave. Heroes? Not so sure of that, but going the extra mile for all our students? Most definitely! I could not be more proud to be a part of the Inverness School family. Not just for what happened during this event, but day in and out, as we go the extra mile each and every day. That's just how we roll!
RESIA BROOKS, Principal, Forest Oaks
Once teachers and staff at Forest Oaks Elementary found out the snow would require them to the night, I decided to make an event out of the situation. We called it “Camp Forest Oaks.”
The school’s leadership team came up with a plan and schedule, which included dinner, snacks, a disco party and a movie. After buses stopped running, 67 students and 50 faculty members launched into camp mode.
My biggest concern was the parents. I wanted to make sure they weren’t worried about their babies being left at school. So, I sent everybody the plan and posted the info online.
School Custodian Doris Bryant decided to stay at the school to help out, even though it was the first night in 47 years she had been away from her husband, Fate Bryant, overnight. Bryant and her husband were reunited the next morning, and the last child was picked up from Forest Oaks on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 29.
By LAURA PARTAIN, Teacher, Chelsea High School
Chelsea High School turned on the lights of the practice field on Tuesday night as a beacon for stranded motorists to find shelter, and in they came. A man with his dog, an elderly lady suffering from dementia, women with babies, a family with a handicapped son, paramedics responding to a severely diabetic man who was out of insulin — they were greeted by students working alongside a wonderful staff, resource officer and administration that stayed awake all night to welcome those who were in need.
Other "lights" were the snow angels that came all the way down U.S. 280 to retrieve four of us. We passed abandoned cars, several wrecked or in ditches trying to get down Highway 11 to 280. When they could take us no further at Highland Lakes, we began walking and another angel picked us up on his ATV. That poor man had just spent 11 hours trying to get to his daughter's school.
There were many others: David Dubose, who gave my 14-year-old son (who had fever) food and shelter at his radio station; a man who picked up my husband and son while they crossed 280 on foot and walked down a closed Highway 41; a fireman handing out water. Jesus said we are to be the light of the world. This has been manifested during a crazy "dusting" of ice and snow throughout this city.
By ANGELA WALKER, Principal, Mt Laurel Elementary
One miracle story involves our Cahaba Valley Fire and Rescue. They purchased two four-wheel drive Chevy Tahoes Monday and drove them back from Chicago. They arrived in the Town of Mt Laurel at 3 a.m. Tuesday. If not for those two Tahoes, 67 of our students and most of faculty would have had to stay Wednesday night because Highway 41, which is the only access road for our school, was closed until Thursday afternoon.
Team members from Cahaba Valley shuttled more than 110 students and faculty to meeting points in the Narrows, Highland Lakes and the Dunnavant area. In addition to that, they came several times Tuesday night to check on us and bring us blankets, coffee and stuffed animals for our younger students.
Our theme for Tuesday was “We had SNOW Much Fun at the MLES Sleepover!” These teachers and staff members really measured up. The teachers planned movie times, dance parties, story times, game times and even got in some reading and writing activities.
Our custodians helped out and continued to keep our building clean. Our two front office workers never shut their eyes through the whole event. Classroom and special education teachers and paraprofessionals sang songs, told bedtime stories and rubbed backs until every child in the building was asleep by 9:30 p.m. Our cafeteria staff stayed through the whole thing. Leaving this school never crossed members the faculty’s minds until they knew their students could get home safely.
Also, our parents that could get to us kept a steady stream of blankets, water, food, clothes and needed extras coming throughout the night. Our nurse also stayed to support office staff and care for our medically fragile students. She also had a few sick patients during the night, but nothing serious.