Struggling to Stay Connected on Maryland’s Eastern Shore as Teaching Moves Online
Teaching & Learning Photos

Struggling to Stay Connected on Maryland’s Eastern Shore as Teaching Moves Online

By Jaclyn Borowski — April 30, 2020 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Copy URL

As teachers across the country grapple with the challenges that come with remote learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, an elementary school teacher on Maryland’s Eastern Shore faces the added challenge of a lack of internet access at home.

Crossing from Talbot into Dorchester County, over the Choptank River, on April 28, 2020.
Crossing from Talbot into Dorchester County, over the Choptank River, on April 28, 2020.
Jaclyn Borowski
Karen Ruark, a third-grade teacher in Dorchester County, parks outside her elementary school, South Dorchester School, to take advantage of the school’s WiFi hotspot during the hours she’s teaching.
Karen Ruark, a third-grade teacher in Dorchester County, parks outside her elementary school, South Dorchester School, to take advantage of the school’s WiFi hotspot during the hours she’s teaching.
Jaclyn Borowski
Ruark has spotty internet at her home on Hoopers Island in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay.
Ruark has spotty internet at her home on Hoopers Island in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay.
Jaclyn Borowski
South Dorchester School, where Karen Ruark teaches third grade, sits empty on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, as education has moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
South Dorchester School, where Karen Ruark teaches third grade, sits empty on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, as education has moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Jaclyn Borowski
As Ruark works from the parking lot of her elementary school, she’s often joined by her daughters, who are both in high school and need internet access to upload their assignments.
As Ruark works from the parking lot of her elementary school, she’s often joined by her daughters, who are both in high school and need internet access to upload their assignments.
Jaclyn Borowski
The route to South Dorchester School, where Karen Ruark teaches third grade, is lined with farms and single-family homes.
The route to South Dorchester School, where Karen Ruark teaches third grade, is lined with farms and single-family homes.
Jaclyn Borowski
Dorchester County sits on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, just over the Choptank River.
Dorchester County sits on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, just over the Choptank River.
Jaclyn Borowski
A portrait of third-grade teacher Karen Ruark outside her elementary school, South Dorchester School, on April 28, 2020.
A portrait of third-grade teacher Karen Ruark outside her elementary school, South Dorchester School, on April 28, 2020.
Jaclyn Borowski
Despite the challenge of reliable internet, Ruark has been able to make contact with every single third-grader in her class.
Despite the challenge of reliable internet, Ruark has been able to make contact with every single third-grader in her class.
Jaclyn Borowski
A home along Route 50, the main route through Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has posted a series of signs thanking every industry of essential workers, including teachers, as seen on April 28, 2020.
A home along Route 50, the main route through Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has posted a series of signs thanking every industry of essential workers, including teachers, as seen on April 28, 2020.
Jaclyn Borowski
Dorchester County is home to the University of Maryland’s Shore Medical Center. As of April 28, 2020, the county had seen 51 coronavirus cases and two deaths.
Dorchester County is home to the University of Maryland’s Shore Medical Center. As of April 28, 2020, the county had seen 51 coronavirus cases and two deaths.
Jaclyn Borowski

Jaclyn Borowski
Director of Photography & Videography,  Education Week
Jaclyn Borowski is the Director of Photography and Videography for Education Week.
Related Tags:
Digital Divide Remote/Virtual Learning Teachers Maryland

A version of this article first appeared in the Full Frame blog.

Events

Thu., April 09, 2026, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar Managing AI in Schools: Practical Strategies for Districts
How should districts govern AI in schools? Learn practical strategies for policies, safety, transparency, as well as responsible adoption.
Content provided by Lightspeed Systems
Register
Wed., April 29, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar Unlocking Success for Struggling Adolescent Readers
The Science of Reading transformed K-3 literacy. Now it's time to extend that focus to students in grades 6 through 12.
Content provided by STARI
Register
Thu., May 14, 2026, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
Register
See More Events

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs
Create Your Own Job Search

Read Next

Teaching Opinion We Train Teachers to Deliver SEL. They Should Also Know How to Live It
Researchers share three practical moves that educators can start doing right now.
Marc A. Brackett , Robin Stern, Nicole Elbertson & Patricia (Tish) Jennings
•
5 min read
Happy woman meditating on smiling ball among other gloomy balls. Being optimistic, cheerful and happy. Positive thinking, Break time, calm and relax. Time out, stop burnout. Good mood, various emoji.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock
Social Studies Q&A A New Bill Calls for a Model Civics Curriculum at a Polarized Moment
A Democratic senator has introduced bills to boost hands-on civic learning and create a national civics curriculum.
Sarah Schwartz
•
9 min read
Students listen to social studies teacher Ella Pillitteri during a seventh grade civics class at A.D. Henderson School in Boca Raton, Fla., Tuesday, April 16, 2024. When teachers at the K-8 public school, one of the top-performing schools in Florida, are asked how they succeed, one answer is universal: They have autonomy.
Students listen to their social studies teacher during a 7th grade civics class at a school in Boca Raton, Fla., on April 16, 2024. New proposed legislation would create a model national civics curriculum—something that has never successfully been tried.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Teaching Opinion We All Agree Student Voice Matters. But What Do You Actually Do With It?
Start by assuming that students come to the classroom with important things to say.
Larry Ferlazzo
•
10 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Social Studies Opinion What Is Civic Hope? And Why Should Schools Care About It?
Cynicism and gloom are not a recipe to promote voting and good citizenship.
Rick Hess
•
7 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
Load More ▼