Olivia Carofano, Editor-in-Chief
Let’s clear some things up; no, teachers do not live at school. No, their desks don’t magically turn into a bed when the sun sets so they can sleep at night and no, all of them do not live in New Canaan.
In fact, it takes some teachers up to two hours just to arrive at NCHS somewhere close to the school start time, 8am. For many students it’s a daily struggle to drag ourselves out of bed at 7:15. Can you imagine waking up at 5 or 6 in the morning just to beat rush hour traffic?
NCHS teachers’ remain driven and their dedication is not only shown through their persistent work, time and patience with students but also their daily commitment to come to school every morning just to assist us in gaining an exemplary education.
As stated previously, on average, it takes teachers up to or sometimes even more than two hours to arrive at school before 8am. Obviously their goal is to arrive at school early so that they have ample time to review any lesson prep, meet with students or get some grading in before the day begins. History teacher Ruth Bosco, has a longer commute than most teachers in the mornings and afternoons. “My commute time varies widely – it can be anywhere from 29 minutes to over two hours,” Ms. Bosco said. “I’d say on an average morning it takes me about an hour to get here,” she said.
Math teacher Jamie Courbron also faces a long morning drive. Typically, she leaves her house at six am for an hour-long commute, though traffic can stretch it to an hour and a half. “The hardest part about my commute is sitting in traffic and feeling unproductive. There’s so much else I could be doing with my time; like catching up on some grading or reviewing lesson prep,” she said. “However, I try to use the drive to decompress from the long day or prepare for it as well. On occasion I either like to sit in silence just to gather my thoughts and center myself.”
On the bright side, both teachers are skilled in problem solving. Considering that morning commuters on I-95 lost an average of 34.5 minutes per day in 2022 sitting in southbound morning traffic according to INRIX’s Global Traffic Scorecard, Ms. Bosco always has a plan B in mind. “I usually take the Merritt because I’m more familiar with the back roads and short cuts,” said Ms. Bosco.
Rather than continuing to just sit in traffic on the Merritt Parkway, Ms. Coubron opts for the scenic route. “I take mainly back roads to get to school, Route 136 through Easton and Redding, and then get on the Merritt at Exit 42 in Westport.”
English teacher Arri Weeks, who has been an instructor at NCHS for 15 years, encounters a long but reverse commute in the mornings. Unlike most teachers, Ms. Weeks drives from New York to New Canaan and often finds the drives relaxing; it’s a great way for her to mentally prepare for a long day of teaching and also unwind from it on her way home.”
While she loves driving, Ms. Weeks wishes that she would be able to take the train in the mornings and evenings. “I love driving, but I would love to be able to take Metro North,” she said. “The issue is that the first train coming into New Canaan from the city doesn’t get in until 8:27 at Talmadge Hill, so even with the push back start time, it’s too late.”
Even though the drive to and from work is daunting and long, teachers are still able to balance their routines by discovering ways to relax and destress from the day. Ms. Bosco explains that she either listens to music or a podcast such as Pod Meets World, whereas Ms. Courbron likes to drive in silence to unwind and relax from the day. Additionally, Ms. Courbron prefers to talk to others on the phone. “Occasionally I make phone calls to friends or family but I mostly do not listen to any podcasts or audio books because I simply find them overstimulating after a long day,” she said.
In addition to a long commute, the weather and traffic also play an important role in getting to and from school for teachers. Ms. Courbron has encountered many times where she has been late to school or the trip was prolonged. “Traffic and weather like snow or heavy rain do sometimes cause major issues, and I arrive at school later than I need to,” she said.
Ms. Bosco also recalled some times where she has had difficulty arriving at school on time. “There are a few notable times where it’s been really bad, like when the bridge in Norwalk was on fire, but even if it’s just a rainy day you know the commute is going to be much worse than usual,” she said.
So, if these teachers have such extensive commutes to school, how are they able to meet with their students to answer any questions, make up assessments or review for an exam?
Well, in addition to the building block period on Wednesdays, teachers can meet with students before or after school. Ms. Bosco states that she can meet with her students during my prep periods or Academic Time on Wednesdays. “But, if a students’ free periods don’t align with mine, then I prefer to meet before school, just because the traffic gets exponentially worse the later you leave in the afternoon. I will still meet with students after school if all else fails, though,” she said.
On the other hand, Ms. Weeks prefers to schedule time with students by appointment “I am more than willing and happy to come in a bit earlier to school in order to meet with a student if there is not a time during the day or after school when we’re both free,” she said.
Some teachers, like Ms. Courbron, have thought about moving closer to school to eliminate the long and tireless commute in the mornings. “If I did not love teaching at NCHS so much, I would consider finding work closer to home, but my family and I love our house in Oxford and its close proximity to the rest of our family,” she said.
Similarly, Ms. Weeks also would like to have a shorter commute to work in the mornings but she finds herself loving New York and she loves all the amenities that the city offers. “I have thought about moving closer to NCHS, but I love living in New York,” she said. “ One of the things that I take advantage of is seeing artists talk about their work, directors doing Q&A’s at their screenings, and recently I had the chance to see Jafar Panahi speak after his most recent film It Was Just an Accident, I don’t even think it played in a CT theater,” she said.“These are the things I do not want to miss.”
Beyond the commute, teachers also lose the opportunity to create additional lesson plans, catch up on late grading or simply just complete all their to-dos. Most teachers rely on the time during the school day to accomplish these tasks to avoid working at home; but if the drive becomes more than an hour or there is unexpected traffic teachers are bound to finish their tasks at home. “I wish I had time to stay after school to complete the things I have to get done, not only for my students but for myself as well,” Ms. Bosco said. “When I come home, I prioritize relaxation and just destressing from a long day of work but if I haven’t finished my work then I lose that time of rest.”
Despite the long hours behind the wheel, these teachers continue to be dedicated, have genuine care for their students and always deliver in terms of instruction. They have provided us students with an outstanding education that has the ability to change our lives, make us educated and well-rounded civilians and ultimately lead us to greatness.
Without their unwavering support and continuance in helping students, these teachers do not mind the long commute everyday because not only do they love to teach, they genuinely love the NCHS community and students. “I love teaching here at NCHS. It’s the best district/school I have ever been a part of, and I have no plans to leave,” Ms. Courbron said.
