BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — As students and fogeys get able to return to high school, most teachers are already there. Preparing their classrooms, lesson plans and adhering to latest guidance. Including Ben Hamm, health educator at West Seneca Central Schools.

“Nobody’s unaffected by those back to high school nerves. As an educator, I can actually relate and tell everybody that we feel it’s well,” said Hamm.

As a health educator, Hamm says he’s glad that mental health has taken the forefront throughout the pandemic. It’s something they’ve been incorporating over on the Maryvale School District as well.

As they enter their second 12 months working with Compeer Buffalo, they’re seeing response even at freshman orientation.

“I’m often the loneliest table on the market, no body desires to speak about depression, but I had one parent she said what an exquisite opportunity that the college is providing,” said Kelli Cookfair, LMSW, the School Social Employee at Maryvale.

So we asked these two educators for 7 suggestions for teachers as they get able to return to high school:
1. Simply just be there.

2. Take your personal advice, anything you’d tell your students, tell yourself as well.

3. Handle yourself.

“Some things can wait, but self care and wellness can’t, we want to maintain ourselves and show students that that’s the priority,” said Cookfair.

4. Be a job model.

“Students can tell if teachers had a foul day, even in the event you did stand up and spill your coffee and forget your phone, we wish to ensure that to indicate them the best way to recuperate from that,” said Cookfair.

5. Be listener and observe how students are adjusting.

6. Be sensitive

7. Meet students where they’re.

“Don’t expect them to return right back in and be able to crack open a notebook, every student and adult has undergone their very own experience with this pandemic, but we’re getting through it and we will all relate to that and we are going to get through it,” said Hamm.