Zamudios find family harmony in MUSD’s distance learning platform

For the Zamudio family of four, each school day is like clockwork.

Jesus “Chuy” Zamudio, a Physical Education teacher at Milpitas High School, is the first to wake up at 6:10 a.m. He heads downstairs, has a quick breakfast, and sets up his equipment for a zero period class.

“It’s like my own studio,” explained Chuy, who claims the living room area as his teaching domain. “I have to set up my mats and weights. I also have my tripod for my camera and make sure my HDMI cord is plugged in, and I’m ready to go.”

Chuy, who is in his 19th year with Milpitas Unified School District, uses the P90X exercise program, with his own modifications, to give his students a good workout each class period. He instructs for four periods per day.

“Everyone is on. They are working. It’s phenomenal to see,” said Chuy, who averages about 45 students per class period. “Everyone is working out. The only time they are not working out is when they’re not there, and that rarely happens. The kids in Milpitas are just phenomenal.”

While Chuy is leading his zero period workout, his daughter Julia, a third grader at Pomeroy Elementary School, and son Lucas, a fifth grader also at Pomeroy, make their way into the kitchen for breakfast at around 7:45 a.m.

“They like to come down and see me at work,” said Chuy. “We make it work.”

Meanwhile, Katy Zamudio, a mathematics teacher at Thomas Russell Middle School, is in her home office preparing for her first period class in the MUSD Educate EveryWhere 2.0 distance learning model.

“It’s been going well. Like every family, we are making it work. I have to put on my mom hat at the same time as I put on my teacher hat,” said the 20th year educator, who has incorporated four workstations in their home for each family member. “Chuy is downstairs; I’m in my office; the kids are in their rooms; and we’re all doing our thing.”

The Zamudios agree that they would prefer being on their respective campuses (all on the same Escuela Parkway) for in-person instruction. They crave social interactions with colleagues and classmates. However, they all know distance learning and MUSD’s Phasing-In Plan for 2020-21 is the safest method for staff, students, and families.

“Sometimes it’s hard, but it’s working out,” said Julia, whose favorite subject is math (just like what mom teaches). “I can hear my dad downstairs. He’s loud.”

Lucas echoed his younger sister’s sentiments, and added that he “likes that my teacher explains everything” as well as how they use breakout rooms to discuss topics before returning to whole class instruction.

Throughout the school day, Chuy and Katy help their own children with their classwork in between teaching their students.

“I know that everyone is doing the best they can under the circumstances,” Chuy said. “Our kids in Milpitas are resilient. To come back this fall and start back up in distance learning and show up says a lot about what our kids are like here in Milpitas.”

With MUSD EducatEveryWhere, the Zamudios are certainly making it happen simultaneously for their students and their children in our Culture of WE.

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