Organizers of a “Teacher Appreciation Drive-by” in Almaden Valley on May 8 say they didn’t know these kinds of celebrations are now expressly forbidden in Santa Clara County.
The county’s public health department on May 6 added language to its “shelter in place” order stating, “Parades, ceremonies and similar gatherings with people outside your household are not allowed, even if everyone stays in their cars.”
News reports on May 8 about this update didn’t stop parents and students from driving past the home of Lynn Murtha, a kindergarten teacher at Williams Elementary School in Almaden Valley. Young students bearing signs proclaiming Murtha to be the “best teacher” popped out of sunroofs and car windows to show their appreciation.
“I didn’t even know about the county prohibiting this” at the time of the event, said Laura Dolen, whose grandson is in Murtha’s class.
Dolen said she appreciates San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia saying he won’t enforce the drive-by ban but will issue warnings to participants.
“I agree with him,” she added. “The whole thing lasted five minutes, and every family was in their own cars.
“The kindergarteners were thrilled. Just think: They have been in their houses for two months without seeing their classmates. So, they were excited to wave to each other from their cars.”
Among the ways Murtha endears herself to her students, Dolen said, are by trucking in snow for them to play in and give each student DVDs at the end of the year showing all the things they did in kindergarten.
What also makes Murtha stand out is how she became a kindergarten teacher. She was in New York City on 9/11, and once she finally got home to her family, she decided to change careers.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, Dolen said, “This teacher has experienced two world-changing events in her career. … Her story is unique, and she is a revered teacher at Williams Elementary.”
