Growing up just blocks from 32nd Street behind the Jack in the Box off Figueroa, Nelly Cristales, a second-grade teacher at 32nd Street Magnet School, has proudly called South Los Angeles and the school home for all her life.
After attending 32nd Street Magnet from kindergarten through eighth grade, Cristales continued her studies at USC – a dream her dad, who worked in landscaping, instilled in her from a young age. She worked as a teaching assistant for 32nd Street Magnet School, and a month before her graduation the principal reached out and offered her a job.
“She knew of how I worked as a T.A. I really put all my heart to it,” she said. “I kind of felt that that was my calling. So, I’ve been here since then.”
That was 2001. Since then, Cristales’ gift for teaching has brought her acclaim from the county as the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 2019 Teacher of the Year and the L.A. Galaxy MVP award, granted for her dedication to her students, coworkers and community.
But in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into Cristales’ school and personal life. Her 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. school routine was upended, causing her stress as both an educator and a parent to three school-aged boys.
“I’m going to be honest with you, I was in tears every day,” she said.
Cristales’ classroom decorated with USC garb, Valentine’s Day balloon arches and bright, colorful graphics simply could not be replicated on Zoom. The COVID-19 pandemic required her to get creative. Cristales implemented daily treasure hunts and riddles and made every unexpected screen glitch into a game to keep her students engaged.
After investing her time and money to make the online learning space the best that it could be, purchasing her own monitors and adjusting the course curriculum, Cristales said that it was disheartening to see her students taking class from their closets, bathrooms and living rooms – often with parents, siblings or abuelas roaming in the background.
LAUSD, the second-largest public school district in the United States, reverted to online learning for the entirety of the 2020 to 2021 school year. Despite parent concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, the district returned fully for in-person learning in August 2021.
Since returning from online school, LAUSD has required weekly testing for students, faculty and staff, as well as daily symptom checks. Megan Reilly, LAUSD’s interim superintendent, sent a letter to students and families on Jan. 22, reporting that these protocols dropped in-school case rates by 7%.
Maria Ott, USC professor of clinical education and former LAUSD superintendent, lauded LAUSD for the work the district is doing to get kids back in school safely and effectively.
“The decision about coming back in person was built on the experience they’ve had already with testing and contact tracing within the district,” she said. “They have just been at the forefront of ensuring safety and being open and communicating with the community. I just think they need to be commended for the job they’re doing, and they’ve made it a priority to get the students back. And, that hasn’t been easy.”
Ott also commended teachers for their resiliency, adaptability and creativity during this time.
“We need to let teachers know how much they’re valued,” she said. She echoed the importance of featuring everyday success stories in media, specifically those of educators.
As a mom herself, Cristales was eager to send her kids back to school, especially with the increased safety protocols in place by LAUSD.
“This is their second home. It’s important that they have it,” she said. “School is not just about what’s in the book.”
Cristales also emphasized that school provides children necessary discipline and nurturing that they might not receive at home. She said that many students fell behind with virtual learning.
But despite virtual learning challenges, Cristales said her students persisted.
“It’s because I didn’t give up,” she said.
Leslie Menjivar, a parent to three kids and president of the 32nd Street Magnet Parent, Teachers and Students Association, spoke of her difficulties during the pandemic in organizing programming for schools and onboarding new members into the PTSA. Menjivar said it was especially difficult to engage and get face-to-face time with 32nd Street Magnet School commuters, who do not live near the school.
Despite the multitude of challenges they have faced, Menjivar commended teachers and LAUSD for the work they are doing to educate students, who she jokingly referred to as “walking viruses.”
“The school, principal and teachers are trying their best and are being motivated to help the students. Ultimately, we forget that teachers are also parents,” she said. “We have learned now, when we had our kids at home, how important teachers are in our kids’ lives and how hard they work. I appreciate them more than before.”
Looking into the future, Cristales said that she hopes to push her students to excel both in and outside of the classroom. She said the COVID-19 pandemic has caused damage in building character and in academic progress, but this backtracking will not slow her down from getting her students through elementary school and, eventually, into higher education.
“I always tell them, ‘We’re going to third grade and then college,’” she said.
And according to Cristales, COVID-19 will not stop that.