Slow news day

The newsroom was quiet on the 31st. Rain on the rooftop had a soporific effect on the art department, music reviewer, astrologer, meteorologist, and more. March breeze, neither cool nor warm, blew Teacher Town drafts off the planning table from a window opened wide. Sheets of white, ink-splattered, bolded, some strike-through phrases, others victorious with a double-underline. All set aside on this last day of an annual challenge. 

Due dates floated like feathers, out of reach. Each article was a pitch, a swing, and... So many headlines, but not as many conclusions. The engine was humming on the ground floor.  We called on the spirit of Johannesburg Gutenberg to get this edition of Teacher Town out. Small town press may be better published on a once-weekly basis, for that matter. Subscribers only.

Spring breakers do it right

It was the “best day of spring break” and he's just halfway through. This breaking news from one of Teacher Town’s own. 

It started with a proclamation: “My mortal body has grown weak. I require sustenance.” (Fortunately, this earthly being can also reach the cereal bowl.)

Next up, bikes were loaded atop the car for a trek in the woods. Through the barren spikes of winter, leaves sprouted on branches above. Wheels bounced over tree roots and through a tunnel begging for a chorus of “Echo! Echo!”

Back in on road, a simple signal of “battery low” landed him at the bagel shop for another recharge. 

Build a bench without nails? Done. Mine diamonds on Minecraft? Done. Set the table for five because the big brothers came for a visit? Done and done!

Five days to go, and this one’s planning to make them all count.

Today’s Horoscope

Pisces, you are one with the water today. At the surface, you will take in the warmth of the sun’s rays, but don’t linger long. The depths await you, where you will find new reefs and sunken ships to explore. It’s may be colder there, but you find the chill and solitude invigorating. Your eyes are wide open—you’re a fish after all—to a new realm of possibilities far beyond craggy pirate’s treasure. As you contemplate unanswered questions, meditate in the weightlessness of space. Sea stars sparkle for those who swim to the other side of the cove.

Benefactor garners praise, some skepticism

Big business tycoon and philanthropist was caught slipping $50 bills into his opponents’ banks. For the betterment of society? To keep the game going? Is there a difference? After rolling doubles every other turn, a sense of responsibility has accompanied his good luck. 

With new home and hotel construction underway, he is still bound to crush his competitors. Meanwhile, it’s the poorest of us who get stuck with the luxury tax again and again. Sad irony, indeed. Unless we get a  free ride past go to collect $200, it’s all thanks and gratitude for the charity this time around the block.

Financial Times

Capitalism is kicking in Teacher Town tonight, and it’s a bull market. Cash is changing hands in rapid succession after many runs around the block in a mix of impulsive and prudent spending. Houses and hotels are going up left and right, and despite a depleted bank, the dice keep rolling doubles for one very lucky investor. In one tense negotiation, Virginia Avenue was traded for Pacific, plus a handful of cash. Too bad because there’s a whole lot of foot traffic around that pricey corner. Loiterers get sent straight to jail with only a sliver of support from the community chest. The market is on a short pause until morning. Buyers, brace yourselves and your pocket books. Now that Park Place and Boardwalk have been bought up, there’s no telling how long you’ll be able to stay afloat. Laissez-faire? C’est la vie in the game of Monopoly.

Ask Alice

Dear Alice,

The birds are arguing with the wind. They're in an endless back and forth--the chirping is nonstop and the wind's passive aggressive shushing is not helping. I'm thinking it might be the dinner hour, and the birds just want to pick up their seeds and berries without the hassle of them blowing to and fro. I get it, but we don't all need to hear their business. The wind, on the other hand, has a job to do. It's March, of course, and she's been waiting all year to take center stage,  but it wouldn't kill her to take a short break. Do you think I should meddle or mediate?

Sincerely,

Porch Potato

Dear Porch Potato, 

It's tough being in the middle, but breathe deep and put your feet up. Instead of butting into nature's quarrels, flip the script. Are you sure this conflict isn't between your ears? The birds you hear are warming up for Friday serenade. The wind saves its best gusts for the late afternoon, but the rest of her evening will be devoted to whispering a lullaby. The sunset is minutes away from painting your evening shades of tangerine and gold. Soon enough, this wild world will settle down. And so will you.

Sincerely,

Alice

Help Wanted

Cartoon strip artist. Seeking individual with the power to prompt laughter at the end of a long day. Can nurse a spark into a roaring bonfire--simple, happy drawings with small jokes that pack a lot of power preferred. Prolific doodler with a trailmix folder of drawings and math problems in each handful. Also experienced in coaching writer on daily slice of life posts. Contracted position, two to three strips, bonuses available, a.k.a. chocolate. 

Local weather report

The rain was coming down in sheets as students and staff scrambled into the building this morning. Even with the best gear, water dripped off backpacks, sending a decent spray across the linoleum tile. Kids wiped droplets off their temples as they took stock of the board; teachers stepped away from drenched coats stretched across their chairs to dry. On the screen, Teams displayed a few faces of the kids at home. They called out greetings--a daily check of the audio settings. 

"Hi." Check.

"Testing." Check.

"Whoa, it is pouring out," one commented from the cyberverse. "Can you all hear that rain outside my window?"

In the classroom, they turned to see the gray sky turn grayer. The air from the vent sent a chill down their damp spines.

"Uh, yeah. It's raining here, too," was the school-side reply to those calling in from warm, dry homes. Thought bubbles appeared above heads with memories of pajama bottoms and socked feet, cereal bowls and bedhead concealed by neat Teams initials.

Concurrent learning. Students learning the same lessons at the same time from different places. Some things are the same. Others are very different. 

Pyrotechnics and classroom library loans

Fireworks could be seen from a second-floor classroom window when teacher Allie O'Malley started passing out books. Hard copies of books with bold covers and intriguing summaries on the inside flaps. Books by energizing authors, such as Nicola Yoon, Nic Stone, and Marie Lu. Books that reveal aspirations and adventures, struggles and successes, challenges and changes. Books that were previously stacked willy-nilly on shelves, then papered over like they pulled a blanket over their heads and said, "Wake me when it's over."

Well, it's not over, but real live students sat within four actual walls, listened to in-person book talks, and jotted down titles that turned their heads. They browsed with their eyes and ears before reaching out with their hands--policy, you know--but with each book that left the room, the sparks flew higher and brighter. Shooting stars in pink, gold, and silver shot from Room 224 signaling the world of this breathtaking celebration.

As students stood from their sanitized desks and filed out with books in hand, their teacher looked on in awe and said, "Oooooh, aaaaaah."

Monday highlights

It was non-stop catch up on this asynchronous Monday in Teacher Town. It was a toe-tapping time skipping from tab to tab in a hopscotch across a slide-deck-crafting, LMS-building, and hyperlink-embedding kind of day. It was leaning into office hours for a let's-chat-about-assignments, then a how-to-make-this-even-better, and a wow-teaching-one-on-one sure-is-easier kind of way. Later, it was an I-see-the-finish-line sprint to zero ungraded assignments with some rubric-clicking friendly-note-writing, and a one-more-hill chant before I shut down my laptop, if I may.

Birthday special

Reservations are available at St. Ursula's Bistrot. Named for the patron saint of teachers, this deserves be your go-to spot for a feast. Call in today for a guaranteed two hours of fun in one of our street-side, pandemic-friendly bubble booths. Order the biscuits with more butter than an Irish dairy farm. Try a prawn the size of your head. Roasted broccoli has the power to erase any memory of wanting to "get the vegetables over with" because this divine dish has everyone asking for more. 

It's been one long year away from anything resembling Sunday brunch in the city. So go ahead, blow out that candle on the chocolate mousse, and make a wish. We won't even have to ask what it's for.

Bicoastal workouts, not just for physical fitness

Allie O’Malley’s Saturday run had barely begun when the New York Times Daily playing in her ears was interrupted by a San Diego number. Who says friends can't meet for a jog in separate time zones? The girls compared notes about COVID conditions through Mile 1. They processed emotions about the latest news through Mile 2. By Miles 3 and 4, they were on a quest for truths about life, slaying dragons of the past, and sharing the weight of Thor's hammer against the giants of the present. Finishing up Mile 5, they were filling each other in on family. 

Nowhere near to closing the conversation, O'Malley returned home to pick up her dog. Their running duo became a trio for a couple more miles, and the sun shined as happily on Teacher Town as it did out west. 

Week 1 winds down

Do you hear the music? Because there's a dance party in the kitchen. Dough and toppings line the counters. Mozzarella and morels, tomatoes and thyme. Come on home for a good old fashioned pizza night, a much needed reward for surviving--too soon to say thriving--the first week of concurrent learning. Kids, power down your iPads. Parents, don't even read the class newsletter just yet. Teachers, this is your night, too. 

The oven is hot. Stand back and let it perform its magic. Because everyone in Teacher Town waved their wands enough for one week. 

Another word study victory in hybrid class

The Teams call had ended, and the desks were wiped down. One student turned to his teacher to ask, "If two lasagnas are stacked one on top of the other, is it plural? Or do you just end up with one huge lasagna?"

Week 1 of hybrid classes is not even over, but the dam has broken and deep thoughts like this are flowing by the gallon. 

After posing the question to two classmates, sitting six feet away, the three considered other ways to apply the concept. "How about a Big Mac? Two burgers, one sandwich."

"How about a Dagwood sandwich?" asked the teacher, who added, "Do you know that reference?"

So it seems that youngsters don't know about Blondie comics, which is maybe for the best. That's okay, they still got the rundown on the allusion to the Bumsteads (with only a brief reminder of what an allusion is).

The students put online resources to work and presented this definition:

sandwich: an item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with meat, cheese, or other filling between them 

 "So what, is it against the rules to put a piece of bread in the middle of your sandwich?" The boys were stumped...until they struck gold. "Not unless you count bread as a filling!" 

"Mmmm, everyone loves a good bread sandwich." They all agreed with this conclusion. With that, they were dismissed for lunch.

English classes experience the word of the day

"What does the word 'concurrent' mean?" This was the warm-up question in a Teacher Town English class on their first hybrid / distance learning day, in which both teaching models are wrapped up in one cozy bundle. 

Not a single student seemed to know what it meant. In fact, one asked, "Is this a new word made up for COVID times?" But they appeared eager to learn, one major highlight of the event.

Between 2 and 10 students per class arrived with smiles beneath their masks. About the same number of students attended class from home. While Allie O'Malley flexed her webcam, students called "testing" from opposite ends of ends of the concurrent classroom. For the most part, there were a lot of thumbs up when it came to audio-visual effects. 

"It was a huge relief," she said. O'Malley was right to worry. It's a tremendous undertaking to meet the needs of both groups at once. One teacher, two classes, one period? The dictionary definition reads 'existing, happening, or done at the same time.' Since the school board didn't approve time machines in the tech kits they recently supplied, this is going to be long four months for a lot of teachers. 

"I'm trying to focus on the definition in the context of math: two or more lines meeting at one point." O'Malley continued. "Plus the prefix--con. It means together. Can we just learn together?" 

That's the hope! Kids turned on their cameras in greater numbers. The two groups talked back and forth. Both groups played a few rounds of Quizlet live...yes, in unison. Then they waved good-bye to each other for the change of class. That's a vocabulary lesson that's going to take hold.

"Tomorrow, maybe we'll explore the word 'depleted.' I mean, it was fun, but now I'm exhausted." 

Crime Report

At 6 AM this morning, an iPhone mysteriously went missing after its owner snoozed the alarm for the nineteenth time. It wasn't until twenty-seven minutes later when morning light woke Allie O'Malley, teacher at the local middle school. She was relieved that today was an asynchronous Monday, so disruptions to her routine were minimal, and she was able to log in on time. 

"I didn't even set eyes on it--I barely realized it was morning already" she recalls, and her spouse promptly confirmed. He, too, appeared out of sorts from disrupted sleep. 

Rubbing his eyes, he recounted the variety of ring tones she had programmed. "Presto. Radar. Radiate. Also, slow rise." 

"I've had a lot on my plate. So I set a bunch of alarms to make sure I don't oversleep."

"Oh, her phone also plays 'I'll Fly Away' from the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack," he added. O'Malley insisted that she's been meaning to update that since the film was released in 2000.

When findmyiphone app yielded no results, police were called onto the scene. They spent the afternoon gathering suspects. Based on the open window on the opposite side of the bed, they have only one.

Arts and Style

What's the best remedy for a grumpster rolling out of bed after an hour has been mercilessly ripped from her groggy hands? A mid-day trip to the ice cream shop is sure to boost spirits for even the most stubborn of the anti-DLS camp. Take a stroll through the neighborhood and choose the sunniest side of the street. Linger on the menu as long as you like. Brambleberry crisp, salted peanut butter, rainbow with sun sprinkles. Cone or cup. Everyone's a winner when the outdoor seating is open. 

Go shoulder-to-shoulder with a loved one or two, and compare scoop reviews. Watch passers-by and admire the well-dressed wonders who know how to seize a Sunday. Then take pride in your sneakers because you made it out on the town today with a smile. Now, that's what we call style.

Help Wanted

Seeking assistance in coping with a 23-hour day. Optimists preferred with expertise in time management and self-regulation. Expect mild to severe irritation at the timing of Daylight Saving 2021, when in fact most regular days barely suffice for tackling the typical responsibilities and general futility of a work-life balance. Duties may include laundry and assorted weekend chores, but are more likely to include meditation exercises and patient listening. This is a temporary position set to end after sunset when the employer has been rightfully tucked in for an early bedtime.

Last minute pep

The seating charts have been made, and a gooseneck camera is clipped to the podium in room 224 of Teacher Town Middle School, but eighth-grade English teacher, Allie O'Malley, has realized that one crucial element will be missing when she goes in-person next week. She's energized by the prospect of teaching outside the home, but as she filled her portable mug this morning, the realization made her blood run cold.

"How am I going to get enough caffeine with students in the room?" 

She's not the only one with concerns about wearing a mask all day. Some complain of the elastic around the ears. Others report that it can hard to breathe. It can get hot. Hearing one another can be a challenge.

O'Malley insists, "I don't care about any of that. I've been drinking at least three cups of coffee each morning of every teaching day since March 16, 2020. I begin the warm-up, take a sip, coach students through a mini-lesson, take a sip, form breakout groups, take a sip. I'm pretty sure sipping that much during class will no longer be appropriate."

The middle school day starts early, making this is a valid problem for other teachers as well. Doctors advise tapering caffeine intake in preparation for the transition, but for many, this advice comes too late. To avoid withdrawal symptoms, O'Malley is working on taking large gulps so that she may consume the proper amount between classes instead. She recommends removing the lid and holding the cup at a 50 degree angle while counting, one Mississippi, two Mississippi. 

"It might require some weekend training, but it will be worth it."

Sunshine soothes sore souls

Many in Teacher Town have been asking, “Do you remember what you were doing one year ago?” Nearing twelve-month mark since the world found itself in the grip of a pandemic, there has been a call to reflection. Recognition of lost lives and lives altered. Gratitude—some guilt too—for making it this far with only bruises. Whatever the extent of the hurt, no one is unscathed. Balancing strides toward normalcy with watchful vigilance, the community wonders what it will take to heal a wounded world.

Today was the third day of take-off-your-jacket joy. It was all on display on a late afternoon tour: a bicycle parade; a mother blowing bubbles at her baby; a gentleman in a lawn chair, eyes closed and smiling.

Look back with reverence and ahead with care, but enjoy the sun while it shines.

Op Ed: Standardized tests? Really?

Some members of the Teacher Town community are startled by the announcement that standardized tests will go on as planned in the spring. Fresh off the press, one draft of the schedule will set students bubbling answers from May 1 to the end of June. 

True, teachers have been teaching their tails off and students have been learning a lion share. But to devote precious moments to this? To pretend as if this school year has been anything than normal? To say to our students, "Please place recent traumas and fears away from your testing area. Proctors are not permitted to answer questions about our ongoing pandemic and the countless consequences we now face. This is an untimed test, so unlike other educational resources this year, you'll be given all the time you need. You may enter your ID and pin number now. Do your best, and good luck."

Some may see the bright side of the end-of-year assessments. We interviewed one educator who said, "I'm approaching the whole thing with curiosity." No surprise, her Clifton strength is optimism. "We're doing great under the circumstances. Chances are good that we'll be pleased by the results." While we applaud all the brave teachers--optimists and otherwise--enough is enough. It's March. Approximately 60% of students are returning to the building in a hybrid model. Most of us are finding the silver lining there, where it belongs, in the long-awaited chance to meet some students face-to-face. 

The state should pull back on their plan to administer standardized tests this year. This is an opportunity to lead with a vision. Now is the time to show students what we truly value. We can shift priorities away from a test score and celebrate innovation, resilience, and compassion. That's the way to bring proper closure to this slip-n-slide of a school year. 

Remember: When the proctor announces, "You may begin," you have a right to say, "No thanks."

PB & J Cafe

Have you tried the hottest restaurant in town? No need to make a reservation or suffer through long lines to get in. Get yourself a seat at the PB & J Cafe. You all know where to find it.

It's one of those boutique spots that keeps the menu short so they can get every dish just right. Can it be wrapped in foil? Is the smell inoffensive when heated in the microwave? Will the customer find the necessary utensil in her backpack? If the answer to those questions is "yes," then chances are good, you can have your order up in no time. We recommend their signature dish: peanut butter, of course. Try a side of raspberry jam. Go crazy with honey later in the week. Other fun options include crackers and hummus and cold pizza. Coconut yogurt is a must-try dessert. The luckiest diners will discover a stray chocolate stashed in their jacket pocket. 

You'll love the ambience. Total silence, actually, because you'll eat alone. Play any music you like. Check your phone for messages since not a soul is looking for eye contact. There's a terrific view of the soccer field, and the service is only occasionally salty. Plus, everyone knows your name, so you'll feel right at home. Best part is...the door is closed, which means you can take off your mask for a full 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Writers keep writing

It's happening! Writers all over Teacher Town have been tap, tap, tapping on their keyboards since March 1, and their posts are providing glimpses into bright, shiny worlds that had grown dull after 11 months in semi-quarantine. Studies in sweet potatoes, walks around Washington, and perfectly made beds are some of the rays of light that have shined on the community over the last couple of days.

"My kitchen table has been my universe for the last year," says one writer. "Reading these slices by writers near and far makes me feel like I've been somewhere." 

In both poetry and prose, slices of life are a daily meditation: shades of apple green, shiny sneakers, snowy owls, old habits/new truths, multi-tasking prowess, mountain adventures, quaran-tacos, and Pteranodons. They are all a reminder of the many eyes around Teacher Town that are opened wide.

Breaking news: The kids are in on it, too. Just a simple invitation went out, and the posts are piling up. "We're nearing 100, and it's only March 8!" one their top posters exclaimed. They're celebrating Women's Day, sharing embarrassing stories, describing sounds of the night, and more. We reached the recently named Youth Poet Laureate of Teacher Town, and she recalled, "I started writing slices of life in middle school, and I never stopped."

It's the gift that keeps on giving. Write here, write now.

Just Ask Alice

Dear Alice,

I love the annual Slice of Life Story Challenge, but this year, my ideas are as elusive as a rope of sand. I know, every day provides a chance to find brilliance amid the mundane. The universe has certainly not been stingy with fresh material, either. But maybe that's the problem. There's too much to take in. Too much to process. It's March 7, and this Teacher Town citizen is frankly daunted by the 24 days ahead. What should I do?

Sincerely,

Out of Ideas

Dear Out of Ideas,

Don't feel bad--you can't be alone. All you can do is take this month one day at a time. You make a good point about system overload. Every day, we are all taking on unprecedented challenges, and it's not easy to make sense of it all. But remember that every time you sit down to write, you are taking a chisel to the granite. It's hard to see the figure that lies beneath, but based on your blisters and the dust at your feet, you are making progress one word at a time. Sure, you may just end up with a pile of rubble by the end. Go easy on yourself. Write a little or write a lot, be creative...or not. Every slice is a good one.

Yours,

Alice

Today's Horoscope

You've been swimming upstream lately, Pisces. Today, you can wade in calmer waters. Tie up your running shoes and pick a familiar route. Scroll through the news and feel free to just skim the headlines. Get cozy and watch the season finale to WandaVision, and bake of up that batch of cookie dough you stashed away. Does getting the vacuuming and the laundry done early make you happy? Then go for it, especially if you can listen to your latest audiobook, too. But when your email calls you by name, go ahead and look the other way. Although your moon is in Capricorn, there's plenty of time for initiative and goal-setting later. Those goat horns have little purpose on a Saturday anyway. 

What's the forecast?

Teacher Town can enjoy sunny skies for the next seven days. It's Friday, so get outside, take off your mask, and breathe in that crisp, clean air! Temperatures are hovering around 40 degrees today, so don't put your jackets away just yet. But when the family dog looks longingly at the door, you don't have to fear the ice patches that recently adorned the sidewalks. Rest assured that lonesome running shoes are also loyal. They are right where you left them before you started making weather-related excuses. 

More good news: temps are on the way up, so get out there and remove the Christmas lights still strung along the bushes. It's nearly spring--so the timing's just right to replace the mini-evergreen on your front steps with some impatiens or petunias.

Soon, the community can enjoy long stretches outside together. "There's been so much isolation this year," the Ms. Mayor pointed out. "It will be great to see neighbors come together again in the streets."

Tradition tells us that this season in Teacher Town is anything but predictable. Past the 10-day forecast, hold onto your hats in case of high winds, keep your flip flops handy for a summer swelter, or keep your mittens handy for a blizzard like we had back in '93. But for now, you can all open the window and let the sun shine in. We all deserve it.

Students raise their virtual voices

Since September, the community has been buzzing about a district policy that makes camera use optional in distance learning. Comments made in the grocery store lines and over the fence have been emphasized by extreme eye-rolling. "Kids can't be trusted!" was one claim made at the Teacher Town school board meeting. Yet teachers have been thoughtful about how to measure engagement in meaningful ways, and as it turns out, it has little to do with two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

In fact, students seated at desks in classrooms provide no guarantee of focus and attention. Until MIT completes its prototype of mindreading headsets, instruction must continue without interruption. In the meantime, students are encouraged to make their presence known in myriad ways: unmuted and outloud, chat comments, breakout rooms, photos of their notebook, exit ticket surveys. Of course, the good old fashioned one-on-one call for a friendly pep talk can do wonders.

When one resolute parent insisted that their child use the camera, the teacher provided an update: "I'm fairly sure the child is watching Netflix during my lesson--probably a comedy based on his smile." She followed up with more specifics about the nature of class participation. "This case is not closed," but she added that in the next class, the kid was a superstar, and she has no idea if he was having a good hair day or not. 

Camera off, camera on. Teacher Town is learning that there's more to a student than a face.

Air conditioner roar drowns out chirping crickets

Back to the building, Teacher Town Middle School is nowhere near back to normal. Typical sounds expected in most schools include the sliding of chairs, opening of doors, and footsteps down the hall. Side conversations provide distractions, both on topic and off. The crunch of a stapler and squeak of a dry erase marker are the natural soundtrack to productivity. One year ago, staff and students found these sounds to be quite unremarkable. This week, these sounds are a figment of their imagination. 

"Well, I did hear a deafening screech when my co-teacher entered the call," reports one teacher when asked about what has changed. Observers noted that the few students on camera winced in pain until she remembered to mute her mic. 

In a classic question and answer activity on Teams today, the same teacher paused between questions to allow students generous wait-time to answer; punctuating the silence was the deafening hum of the A/C system. "Speaking one at a time just doesn't feel natural," she said. "I miss casual conversations." 

Staff will welcome students into the building next week. "I can't wait for kids to talk over me," the teacher explained. "Binder snaps. Also, the pencil sharpener." 

Administration announced that the bell has been dismantled for the transition. Some suspect the decision will assuage sensory overload. One step at a time is the maxim all are following in Teacher Town for now.

School buildings open their doors again

Nearly one year later, Teacher Town is welcoming staff and students back to school buildings amid a growing list of mitigations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Wading through a sea of hyperlinks and video tutorials, teachers are being trained on the concurrent model. According to district officials, teachers are being provided equipment that will allow them to "seamlessly integrate instruction for their students in person and at home." One teacher reports that the addition of a goose-neck projector is a game-changer. "We have all been on a quest ways to engage students. The goose-neck was the missing link all along."

Along the halls of Teacher Town Middle School, staff are refreshing bulletin boards that still display the handiwork of last year's students. The color of the construction paper posters has faded and the corners have curled. In the weeks ahead, staff and students alike are eager to see what will go up in their place. 

Teacher Town Times

 An information hub for the community it serves. 

Teacher Town was founded in 1999 when one of its inaugural students found herself face-to-face with her very own teacher in a grocery store. "Huh, you come here, too?" she asked, adding, "Because I thought all the teachers shopped in Teacher Town." With a proud heart, it was on that day that our town was founded. For 180 days a year, Teacher Town has been a place where its citizens live and learn together.

For nearly twenty-two years, Teacher Town has seen the community change and grow. From the typical ebb and flow of trends and innovations to the earth-shattering effects of a pandemic. This month, Teacher Town Times pledges to deliver news each day throughout March 2021, to capture both the profound and mundane. Check back for all the town news that's fit to print.