Faculty adjusts to new physical plant

As soon as school closed last June, parts of Jefferson underwent a substantial makeover to accomodate increasing numbers of students. In addition to 13 learning cottages in the back parking lot, what used to the "IBET Hall" is now home to four Tech 9, three geosystems and one chemistry classroom.

Faculty members relocated to the portables met the move's challenges with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
English teacher Milde Waterfall and Government teacher Haywood Torrence requested to be in the learning cottages. "I've taught in a trailer before, and it's wonderful to control your own heat and air conditioning," Waterfall said.

Junior Erin Hopke had bad experiences with learning cottages in elementary school. "I had a trailer in second grade and everybody got sick. It's like a giant petri dish for germs cultivating," she said.
Although the teachers who were moved to learning cottages did not team teach, French teachers Genevieve Delfosse and Lucy LaSalle plan on utilizing their proximity to one another in their classes.

"I will be team teaching the French AP language course with Madame LaSalle, and we are next to each other in the trailer, which will make group activities and sharing of best practices very feasible," Delfosse said.

The usual problem of classroom accessibility should be nonexistent in the learning cottages. "Getting into and out of one's classroom on weekends can sometimes be problematical-and frustrating. I hope, and expect, to be able to access my classroom to do work anytime I wish," Torrence said.

Even with the advantages the learning cottages have to offer, there are a few minor problems that will affect both students and teachers.

"The walls between classrooms are fairly thin…I do think, therefore, that I and the other instructors in learning cottages should take special care to control the degree of 'exuberance' displayed during the course of our classes," Torrence said.

The isolated environment of the learning cottages results in a lack of convenience for restrooms and make-up tests. "Runs to the water fountain and the bathroom will be more inconvenient, and my students and I will have to look both ways before crossing to the main building.

Taking that 'make up test' in the hallway won't be happening, nor will my students be able to spread out in the hallway," LaSalle said.

Teachers are also worried about the weather outside. "On great days it will be wonderful to walk outside between classes, but it will be less attractive when we have freezing rain. Fortunately, I have good rain gear," English teacher Barbara Nelson said.

Other minor problems that perturb individual teachers include lack of space, large desks, television viewing difficulties, location of network connections and Earthwalk computer monitors.

Overall, teachers are ready for new experiences in the learning cottages this year. "I survived renovation years ago when workmen jack-hammered old tile right next to my room...I had to teach in the stairwell, so I'm confident that I can handle a trailer," English teacher Pam Curtis said.