As everyone tries to maintain some normalcy in their lives during this pandemic, here’s a glimpse of what some fellow employees are doing in trying to go about their daily lives.
It’s a good time to catch up on some routine work. Day to day priorities keep me busy and it’s hard to keep up with 2 million square feet of building footprint. I’m verifying square footage for our janitorial contract through the Dale Rogers Ability One Contractor. Using engineering record prints, ARCHIBUS PDF files and my 20 years of building knowledge to ensure that it is accurately represented in the contract. I will need to look at a few things when we return to the Center, but I can do most of it from memory. Not bad for approximately 125 designated areas across center. Submitted by Tim Hibner.
During the Social Distancing and gloom of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Roosevelt Elementary School in Norman, OK surprised a few neighborhoods with a Teacher Parade on March 25th! Teachers decorated their vehicles, and the parade was led by the principal (who used a public address system) in a well-decorated school bus. Enterprise Services Center (ESC) Employee, Alex Chadwick’s children were so excited that they opted to make signs - two evenings in advance - to express their feelings toward their teachers. Alex took a quick break from some ESC Teleconferences to stand in the warm sun of their adjacent park and listen to them hoot and cheer for all the wonderful teachers who are shaping the minds of our students. Submitted by Robyn Burk (on behalf of Alex Chadwick).
In these uncertain times, parents are teleworking and children are being taught strictly online. Edna Pittman, a Multimedia Specialist for the FAA Academy (AMA-24), is adjusting to her new normal. She’s working from home while her children are learning from home during the pandemic.
"It’s definitely been an adjustment. I’m responsible for doing my job and helping my children set up Zoom and Duo for classes. I’m looking over and grading more papers than I ever imagined. I have a new respect for teachers," said Pittman. Pittman also has a 15 year-old son with special needs (Demarion). He suffered a traumatic brain injury several years ago when a daycare provider left him in a hot van.
Students with special needs may not understand the new routine. Demarion learns differently and his classes are all modified. His teacher has adapted her teaching to make sure her students are still receiving education from a distance. Contessa Hubbard-Bass, a special education teacher at John Marshal High School, is coming to Pittman’s house twice a week to personally read to Demarion. To ensure social distancing, she stays in the front yard while Pittman brings Demarion to the porch. She lets nothing stop her, not even the weather.
"She’s shown up, rain or shine. It absolutely makes his day. She acts out the characters and changes her voice. He’s visually impaired so he relies on his hearing. When he hears her voice he lights up. It’s exactly what he needs during this dark time," said Pittman. Pittman said she’s not surprised that Hubbard-Bass would do this for her child. She says this is exactly the kind of teacher that Contessa has always been - a hero. Submitted by Edna Pittman.
’Teachers are heroes’: Teacher goes above and beyond to surprise student with special needs
Scott and I began the new home purchasing process during mid-February, and we closed on March 31. As luck would have it, the coronavirus and social distancing became a significant part of our lives in the middle of this process. Purchasing a home in normal circumstances is stressful and busy. Purchasing a home, and moving out of a house, and into another house in the middle of a pandemic is even more stressful and uncertain. We have tried to stay adaptable and open-minded as we have encountered unique experiences and social distancing constraints. For example, the title company outlined very strict social distancing procedures for us to follow on closing day. Scott and I walked into the building to check in, and then returned to our car. The title company called our cell phones and asked us to enter the building to complete the closing process. They opened all of the doors for us, and we entered a room with new pens, a cleaning supply basket, a sanitized table, a glove-wearing title representative, and little else. After we finished our paperwork, the title company asked us to wait in our car while the sellers signed their paperwork. Then the title company brought the remaining paperwork out to our car. Our realtor was required to wait outside of the building, instead of joining us at the closing, as he normally would have. We have witnessed several moments of human connection as well. Our sellers left us a touching note about the neighborhood, and the neighbors, and saying they prayed for a family to purchase this home and have many years of love, laughter and happy memories. This experience has been extremely memorable, and has given us a lot of stories to tell! Submitted by Regina Schroeder.
One of the things that I have been doing after hours is making fabric face masks. I have been thinking about creating masks for my AAQ family and have been trying to figure out how to get them to people while practicing social distancing (without having to go into the post office to buy postage). I think I have now figured out how to do this. The masks will fit in a regular size envelope (maybe even two masks will fit into a regular envelope). I don't have enough postage to mail the masks out to everyone who needs one, but if you will tell how many you need and will send me a self-addressed stamped envelope (probably allow one stamp per mask), then I will go through the drive-through mail drop-off and send them to you.
The masks that I have been making are cotton on one side and flannel on the other. I tried making a mask with cotton on each side and I didn't think there was enough protection. Attached are a few pictures of the masks I’ve made. Also, there doesn’t seem to be any quarter inch elastic in the state! I have been using large pony tail holders instead and they actually work better than elastic anyway.
My sweet grandmother was a professional seamstress and had GOBS AND GOBS of fabric scraps! How is that for a technical term? I have had this fabric in my house for many years and this is a great way to honor her legacy. I have just felt the need to do my part to help everyone to stay as safe and healthy as possible. Please let me know if you need a mask, you can reach me at Cynthia.Cooper@faa.gov Submitted by Cynthia Cooper.
Every evening we hear stories of the people that have been impacted by COVID-19. Based upon available data, older adults and those with chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems are at greater risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Older individuals in long-term care facilities are even more vulnerable. Not only do these individuals fit the profile of highest risk, but they are also living in environments that encourage the spread of the disease (due to the fact that residents and staff congregate in dining rooms and other rooms throughout the day). The staff at these facilities move from one resident to another, often without any personal protective equipment. Given these circumstances it is no surprise that Kim Sheppard, the Chief of Staff, at the Aeronautical Center was very concerned not only for the health and safety of her father who is in a long-term care facility, but also the staff that cares for her father whom she has grown to love.
On March 12th Kim received a phone call from the long-term care facility where her father is a resident, stating that due to COVID-19 the facility would no longer allow visitors to enter the facility. While she was thankful that the facility was taking proactive steps to protect her father, she was also concerned for her father’s emotional and mental health. Up to this point her father had been spoiled by having almost daily visits by family members and friends.
Since March 12th her father has been allowed to continue physical therapy 3 times per week. During these therapy sessions the therapist FaceTimes Kim and her brother so that they can communicate with their father. Overall, he has been doing well. However, he is definitely ready for the pandemic to end and to have visitors again.
On April 15th Kim’s father turned 78 years old. She and her family were determined to not let COVID-19 stop them from celebrating his birthday together. Kim contacted the long-term care facility to get permission to have a socially distanced birthday party. Once approved she began making plans. Kim’s daughter (Addison) made birthday signs; cards were purchased, and family was invited. On the day of her father’s birthday, his physical therapist brought him to the front door of the facility. Wearing personal protective equipment, the therapist was handed cards and a birthday dessert which she gave to Kim’s father. Then the entire family stood outside the front door and sang Happy Birthday to their father, grandpa, and great grandpa who they affectionately call "Big Daddy." Everyone had a great time and Kim’s father definitely enjoyed the moment.
Kim and her daughter also took this opportunity to thank the many care providers and staff who work at the facility. These people are truly amazing and have been providing outstanding care to the many patients in the facility. Due to their proactive actions there have been no reported COVID-19 cases at the facility. Kim’s daughter, who is a Girl Scout, made signs to thank the staff and donated the remaining boxes of Girl Scout cookies she had left to the staff. At the end of the evening everyone had a smile on their face and a warm feeling in their heart. Submitted by Kim Sheppard.
If you have some good news to share about how you are working at home, or if you have some uplifting activities that you’ve experienced, we would like to hear from you. Please submit your stories to the MONRONeYnews.
