Alietta Bellamy Interview

Abstract Summarized by Lauren Payne\nAlietta Bellamy, a Bronx elementary school teacher for 12 years, discussed her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. She teaches a small class of 22 students, primarily in ELA and math, with most living locally in the Morris Heights neighborhood. The transition to remote learning was challenging, with concerns about student asthma and technology access. Bellamy highlighted the difficulties in providing effective remote education, including the lack of immediate feedback and the impact on students' mental health. She noted that about half of her students received DOE iPads, which helped but were not ideal. The pandemic also affected the school's ability to provide essential services, and Bellamy expressed concerns about the long-term academic and emotional impact on her students.