In classrooms without students in the town and the city
At West Seneca West and Frank A. Sedita Academy in Buffalo, teachers with decades of experience are learning how to teach all over again, as they educate their students online over computers from empty classrooms in the school. Teachers overcome distance, technology and even loneliness to give their students a solid education amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stage is set
English teacher Mark Komosinksi has a studious library backdrop in his classroom for remote teaching at West Seneca West High School.
“Some of my students actually think I’m in the library!” he quipped.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Gym class
Physical education teacher Ashley Bonetto holds a class with ninth and 10th grade students remotely while in her office at West Seneca West High School. Poor internet service in the gym forces her to hold class from her office, which is connected to the girls locker room in the far reaches of the school.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Desks stacked
Desks and chairs are stacked against the wall in a classroom at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Classroom without students
Teacher Kerry Lenihan teaches her ninth grade Global 1 class remotely from her empty classroom at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Group chat
Art teacher Christopher Galley uses a thumbs-up/thumbs-down gesture to quickly gauge the opinions of his students as he teaches gesture drawing remotely to students in his drawing and painting class from his empty classroom at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Art class
Art teacher Christopher Galley teaches gesture drawing remotely to students in his drawing and painting class from his empty classroom at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Remote learning
Art teacher Christopher Galley teaches gesture drawing remotely to students in his drawing and painting class from his empty classroom at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Class project
Students hold up their timed sketches to the camera so West Seneca West High School art teacher Christopher Galley can review their work.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Taking advantage of technology
Art teacher Christopher Galley uses a document scanner to project samples for his lesson as he teaches gesture drawing remotely to students in his drawing and painting class from his empty classroom at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Lunch date
Members of the English department gather for lunch together, using desks spaced a safe distance apart in the hallway during the lunch period at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Getting students what they need
Aide Kathy Kieffer sorts materials being prepared for delivery for students in the district who are studying remotely at home. The gymnasium at West Seneca West High School as become a distribution center for class materials.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Traffic management
Even without kids in the building, the stairways are one-way only, to allow for social distancing among staff at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Empty hallways
An empty hallway at West Seneca West High School.
Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Lonely hallway
5th grade ENL teacher Rebecca Chen walks down an empty hallway as she takes a break between lessons at Frank A. Sedita Academy, PS 30 in Buffalo.
Buffalo Public Schools are fully remote, but teachers are still reporting to school and teaching from their classrooms.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Gym Class
Frank A. Sedita Academy physical education teacher Gavin Hillery works on a fitness exercise he shows to children remotely. He instructs kids students at home to use the edge of a rug or a floor transition to do a “ski jump” back and forth.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Class time
Sixth grade math teacher Jenna Bugman smiles as she teaches a lesson remotely at Frank A. Sedita Academy.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Picking up textbooks
Principal Rafael Perez shows off textbooks waiting in the gym to be picked up by parents to take home to their children at Frank A. Sedita Academy.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Noise mufflers
The old tennis ball on the chair feet trick to stifle sound in a full classroom isn’t getting much use at Frank A. Sedita Academy.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Keeping it upbeat
Sixth grade math teacher Jenna Bugman smiles as she teaches a remote math lesson at Frank A. Sedita Academy.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Teaching alone
Sixth grade ELA Kristin Rickert gestures during a remote class at Frank A. Sedita Academy.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Screen time
Sixth grade ELA teacher Kristin Rickert teaches during a remote class at Frank A. Sedita Academy.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Teachers at work
Sixth grade math teacher Jenna Bugman, right, and sixth grade ELA teacher Kristin Rickert discuss a technical concept as they take a break between classes at Frank A. Sedita Academy.
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
Hand sanitizer
Sanitizer on hand at Frank A. Sedita Academy
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
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