East Cobb church issues 'For Our Teachers' COVID pledge

East Cobb UMC

An East Cobb church that’s been a site for COVID testing in recent weeks posted a message Wednesday urging support for teachers and efforts to reduce the spread of the virus.

On its social media channels, East Cobb United Methodist Church called for a “For Our Teachers” initiative following the deaths of three Cobb school teachers.

Last Thursday, nearly 100 teachers protested outside Cobb Board of Education meetings to demand all-virtual learning. Last week the district went fully remote but this week returned to face-to-face instruction.

A school employee chided two board members and Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale to wear masks during an emotionally-charged public comment period.

The board did not discuss COVID response at those meetings and Ragsdale only briefly mentioned the dead teachers by name during those meetings. Neither he nor board members David Banks and David Chastain of East Cobb put on masks.

Following “the blatant disrespect for teachers’ health and safety at last week’s school board meeting, silence for us is no longer an option,” said the East Cobb UMC message, which continues:

For our teachers, we listen.
They are saying this is the “craziest, most difficult, most frustrating school year” of their careers, and they feel “unsupported and unacknowledged” (a direct quote from a long-time county educator).
For our teachers, we pray.
We ask God to grant all educators the strength and perseverance needed during this difficult year.
For our teachers, we give thanks.
Thank you for the endless hours you have spent reworking the curriculum to fit modified and hybrid classrooms. Thank you for the extra time spent scrubbing desks and sanitizing markers. Your care and creativity do not go unnoticed.
For our teachers, we wear a mask.
Not just once-and-awhile, but every time we leave the house. We must #StopTheSpread.
For our teachers, we get the vaccine when we can.
Ultimately, this is the only way the dreadful pandemic will ever end.
For our teachers, we advocate.
We will contact our school board representatives and implore them to take the same actions we pledge to take.
For our teachers, we do better.
After all, our children would not have an education if it was not… For Our Teachers.
Add the “For Our Teachers” frame to your profile picture and join us in solidarity with educators everywhere: https://tinyurl.com/xz1n4lp2
Along with this, we invite you to post a tangible way you will support teachers in your community. You may model ours or create one of your own. #ForOurTeachers

In November, East Cobb UMC became a pop-up site for COVID testing by a private company, and that part of the church parking lot has been busy ever since. The public can drive up without an appointment to get a test. There are no out-of-pocket costs and insurance is accepted.

On Monday three Cobb school board members signed a letter sent to Gov. Brian Kemp demanding more safety measures at schools, including prioritizing vaccines for teachers.

On Wednesday, the Cobb school district announced that Ragsdale had signed a similar letter from metro Atlanta superintendents.