WACO, TX — The first half of the 2020-2021 school year was a challenge for teachers, students, and families.
Throughout the pandemic, teachers have still found creative ways to roll with the punches.
"It's stressful at times," said Selena Rivas, a kindergarten teacher at Provident Heights Elementary. "But it has been a very good experience."
Whether it's teaching 5-year-olds or teens, the pandemic has been a life-changing experience no one expected.
"I was never expecting this to happen," said Rivas.
For the last several months, teachers at Waco ISD have continuously adapted.
"It just requires constant flexibility and being able to adapt any day that we wake up, which has been a challenge," said Cassandra Hindes, an 8th-grade math teacher at Cesar Chavez Middle School.
Hindes says her routine has changed multiple times this school year due to COVID-19. Some days she is in the classroom with her students, and other days she is at home teaching virtually.
"We are all just doing our best, and I know people are frustrated and tired, but just trying to keep it in perspective and that this is something that the whole world is going through," said the math teacher.
Rivas teaches both online and in-person students at the same time.
"The beginning part was how are lesson plans going to look and how will my kids learn," said Rivas. "So I've been learning from it."
Both Rivas and Hindes say it's about taking it one day at a time.
"The kids make it worth it, even when I am super tired and having a hard time. I think most teachers, that is why we are there and come to school every day," said Hindes.
