There are moments in one’s life that are so indelible that they will be vivid for years to come. One of those moments occurred on March 13, 2020 when I had to send our students home. I had no idea that was the start of an arduous journey of my becoming a #PandemicPrincipal, a hashtag that I have used on many occasions since then. But to describe some of the wins that I have had during the pandemic, I must start at the beginning of this amazing rollercoaster ride that I have been on for the past two years.

When I first took the job at San Marcos High School in March 2019, our school community had experienced several traumas including the Thomas Fire and many safety threats that led to a highly publicized reassignment of its former principal. After a year of having an interim principal, I was chosen as their first Asian American principal and second female principal. During my interview, I shared that my goal was to become the biggest cheerleader for the school. To fulfill my promise, I began leveraging all social media platforms, using #HeckYeahRoyals. I knew that I was on the right track when the county superintendent invited the state Superintendent of Public Instruction to visit San Marcos. We also had a student body organize a flash mob performance during one of the basketball games. Our school spirit was at an all-time high as the news of the pandemic began to dominate the airwaves.

In March 2020 when we were asked to send our students home, we began working on engaging our communities, especially one of our impoverished neighborhoods with students who struggled to gain access to 100 percent online classes. Our entire administrative team walked the neighborhood stores, posting a QR Code so that our families will be able to get the information on their smartphones. Rather than asking our students and families to come to school, which takes up to 90 minutes or longer by bus even during the non-COVID time, we set up tables at one of the elementary schools in the neighborhood to distribute headphones, hotspots, and even school swag. We did so on the weekend to ensure that our families were supported.

During distance learning, I was particularly heartbroken for our seniors, whose junior years were cut short and whose senior years began with nothing exciting and typical. I began calling every senior during lunch. I downloaded their contact numbers and randomized the list to see how they were doing. At first, I would only leave voicemails. After a few days, our seniors began picking up the phone and spoke to me. Some returned my phone calls after I left a message on their phone. Others would email me to let me know that they heard and appreciated the message that I left, which typically was, “Hello [Student Name]. This is Doctor Glazer, your principal. I am calling you today to let you know that I am thinking of you. I hope you and your family are healthy and doing OK. I want you to know how proud I am of you. I hope to see you real soon. Please stay safe!”

Through this, I learned that some of our students were graduating early and moving to another country, and others were supporting their families by working two jobs. One student told me that he was driving his sister to pick up a takeout burger in celebration of her 13th birthday. Even on the most stressful and darkest day, their voices cheered me up immeasurably.