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Kaitlin Gomes Eppinger, a kindergartener teacher at West Vine Street School, has been given 320 sick days by her coworker to help with recovery of a serious illness. Jill Connor / The Westerly Sun
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By ANNA MARIA LEMOINE Sun Staff Writer Eppinger, a young and vibrant teacher in the district, shared news with the staff at
Shortly after Kaitlin West Vine Street School that she was taking a leave of absence for health reasons, colleague Emily Noyes leamed of a STONINGTON
way to help.
. Through the Sick Leave Donation Program Noyes had implemented a year ago in the district, but yet to be used the opportunity to pledge sick days to Eppinger, who underwent major surgery for an undisclosed illness in mid-October.
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The 29-yearold Eppinger is recovering, but more than likely won't be able to retum to her kindergarten classroom until near the end of a long time, she said, to go without a paycheck. the school yeat
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But Noyes and dozens more Stonington teachers, administrators and staff have taken care of that. They have collectively donated 350 of their sick days to Eppinger to use for as long as she needs them.
"lt's a way for us to help support each other," said Noyes, who teaches first grade at West Vine Street School, "as well as a way to do something for a friend/colleague in need when you may feel helpless otherwise." Eppinger is in her fifth year teaching in Stonington. Although teachers receive 15 sick days a year and unused time rolls over, she had a baby last year and had little of her own sick time available this year when life threw her a curveball."
'There's no way to describe it ... the compassion everyone has showed,' Eppinger, who grew up in the area and graduated from Stonington High, said. "How do I say, 'thank you?' lt takes away all wonies about money and allows me to focus on getting better." Cases like hers, Superintendent Van Riley said, are why he created the Sick Leave Donation Program.
"l had it in three districts before coming here," Riley said. "lt gives teachers an opportunity to gift these days. This way, she can be out as long as she needs to be and still get paid. The amount of days that have been donated is really pretty amazing." Riley said the program differs from a "sick leave bank" in that days are donated on a need-to-need basis. Teachers can donate up to five days.
Alicia Dawe, the principal of the West Vine-West Broad Street School, said that the staffs at both campuses have given Eppinger days. Teachers from other schools have contributed, too.
'This whole thing came out of nowhere. I was not prepared," Eppinger said of her illness. "But that happens to people. It's hard going six hours a day teaching kindergarteners and never sitting down for a minute to having to stay in bed." Eppinger taught firstgrade for four years before taking on fullday kindergarten. She's a teacher, her colleagues said, who is loved by her peers and students.
"l am focusing on getting healthy and getting back into the classroom and being the best teacher I can be, Eppinger said. "l want to get back to my second family at West Vine Street." And although she's counting down the days to wfien she can retum, she's grateful for each one. "l want to make sure and say, 'thank you,"' she said. 'For the days, the cards people are sending me, wishing me well. So many people are praying for me and thinking about me. lt means so much to my family and me."
