Irene is no match for Vermont teachers, administrators, parents and students

From a distance, the white tents on the expansive athletic fields of Moretown look like an idyllic setting for an early fall party. Look closer, though, and a banner makes it quite clear what is really going on:

“Welcome to the Moretown School!”

Welcome to school, indeed. Despite today’s pouring rain (an unwelcome guest anywhere in Vermont right now, but particularly in this hard-hit Mad River Valley town) the school’s students, teachers and administrators wore smiles along with their slickers.

Unable to occupy their school building – the all clear is expected any day now – the entire community rallied to ensure that students could get on with the business of learning.

It’s just one of many examples of how Vermont’s teachers, students and parents are adapting to a post-Irene existence. 

In Chittenden, for instance, a half-mile trail cut through forest is a lifeline for students and teachers trying to make it to Barton Elementary School.

Down in Grafton, first-year elementary teacher Jen Leach organized a card drive in which students of the school made beautiful hand-written thank you notes that will be delivered to construction workers this weekend. “You all have extremely thoughtful and passionate children of whom you should be very proud,” she wrote to parents.

And then there’s the tale of students climbing up and down ladders – or taking tractors – to get to Braintree Elementary School.

To Vermont-NEA President Martha Allen, teachers’ resolve to make sure school goes on is no surprise at all. “When you get out of the way and let teachers and support professionals do their thing, extraordinary things happen,” she said. “I’m proud of the men and women who teach Vermont’s children everyday. I am especially proud of them now.”

Here's some more amazing stories from Vermont educators.

More on Moretown from WPTZ
Still More from Vermont Public Radio
Gettng to school challenges from WCAX
NY Times Covers a Path to School