I fought a hard battle this week. A hard, exhausting, slightly disgusting battle. A battle that proves that the smallest visitors to our classrooms don’t care that you have a college degree. I fought germs this week, and I lost.

With the advent of the H1N1 virus in schools across the state, many of us can relate to a surge in both district-issued hand sanitizer and instructional videos demonstrating how to cough into the bent of our elbow. Students are encouraged to immediately tell a staff member if symptoms such as fever or sore throat crop up.

So imagine my delight last Friday night as I gargled salt water and took my temperature every 20 minutes. No fever, but a fantastically stuffed up nose and sinus pressure to boot. Thankfully, no flu here. Instead, the first cold of the school year had arrived. Lovely.

It stands to reason that with careful hand washing, attention to hygiene when coughing and sneezing, and securing a safe distance from others, germs can be contained. This stands to reason just about everywhere except in a school. Ladies and gentlemen, we are virtually powerless. Hand sanitizer or no.

In some cases, germs perform the sneak attack. One student, or in this case the beloved teacher, is minding her own business and is suddenly struck down with a nose-running, head-spinning, joint-aching cold. On other occasions, a teacher can see the attack coming as first one student falls prey to the illness and from there, a certain epicenter of disease is created. Little Susie may be out with a cold one day, but the next, Billy and Bobby will have it too. From there, the sickness spreads, gouging into your seating chart without mercy.

Most often, sick teachers compound their own misery with guilt. We ask ourselves how our classrooms will function without us. No one can teach them as we do – calling in sick is out of the question.

Honestly, in some cases, it is just not possible to take a sick day. Often, work doubles or triples as a result of an absence and the one day of rest can’t possibly prepare us to head back to the classroom and all the extra work that awaits. I have found many times that once back from a sick day, I end up pushing myself even harder to make up for lost time. In the short term I get caught up. In the long term, I usually end up sick again.

The lesson here is not that teachers should make a habit of calling in sick at the first sign of the sniffles, but neither is the advice that you should push through an illness to illustrate commitment to your profession.

As a new teacher, I felt I had something to prove. In my mind, a true professional was willing to make sacrifices for kids.

In the years that followed, however, I learned quite a bit.

First of all, a sick teacher doesn’t do anyone any good. When we tell the kids to stay home because their germs could negatively impact the entire class, we must realize that we too are members of the class. No need to be a superhero.

Secondly, I don’t believe guilt has ever been listed as a remedy for illness. Instead, if you get sick, be honest with yourself and what you are capable of.

The very best you can do is prepare. Have sub plans, seating charts, and additional activities already set up in a sub folder in the room. Because, for most of us, it’s not about if you will need the sub folder, it’s really all about when.

Make sure that all of your attendance materials are easy to find. Appoint a trusted member of the class that can operate as your liaison should you end up missing school. These students can easily help the substitute find additional materials, take attendance, or answer questions. Whenever possible, leave explicit instructions, but keep in mind that the less complicated the daily plan is, the better. You can even go so far as to prepare students for your absence. Though you may have no idea when you will miss school, be honest and upfront with your students about the expectations you have for their behavior when under the direction of a substitute teacher. Often, a class that knows these expectations will be far more likely to uphold them in your absence. This preparation will go a long way toward making your transition back less stressful as well.

As for me, the first cold has come and gone without an absence. Extra sleep, vitamins, and quality time on my couch seem to have done the trick. That and the fact that like most colds, I bore the brunt of it over the weekend. How lucky .. for me.

On the bright side, here’s to bright fall colors and days of health and wellness. Buy some extra hand sanitizer too. It couldn’t hurt.

Flu season has definitely begun. Wisconsin Dells recently closed its schools due to the H1N1 virus. What's been happening in your school, and how are you coping? Comment below.