Teachers are constantly going above and beyond. From covering costs of products that are outside their budget to providing emotional support, they do it all for the kids they care for. With many children undergoing distance learning as stay-at-home orders continue, some people believe teachers' jobs have gotten easier. That's far from the truth.
Katie Ricca is one of the many teachers who is working harder than ever to keep in touch with their students. She teaches first grade at North Bay Haven Charter Academy in Panama City, Florida. She's been holding a daily story time for her class over video chat to keep the young children engaged despite the distance. It's an easy way for her to check in with them on a day-to-day basis.
During an online class earlier this month, Katie noticed one of her students struggling. She reached out to 7-year-old Hannah Close's mom with an idea to raise the little girl's spirits. A surprise, socially distant visit from her teacher helped cheer the little girl up. It meant a lot to Hannah's mom, Kelley Close. Kelley was so touched that she shared a moment from the visit on Facebook in celebration of Katie.
Let's make one thing clear. Teachers deserve all the praise. Whether they're in the classroom or teaching from their homes, they put in a lot of hard work to make sure our children are not only educated but thriving during difficult times.
One Florida teacher is being praised for going above and beyond for her students, even during this difficult time. Katie Ricca teaches first grade at North Bay Haven (NBH) Charter Academy in Panama City, Florida. The school transitioned to distance learning at the end of March.
Katie, a mother of five, explained to People magazine how she started doing virtual story time with her first grade students each night. "I was planning on doing this twice a week until they begged for me to meet each night," she said.
"My class was very social so it was great for them to be able to see their friends each day. They would talk about their day before I read."
During one of Katie's online story times, she noticed one of her students had withdrawn and appeared upset. "Hannah was especially quiet," Katie recalled.
"This was very unusual for her. … She put her head down so we couldn’t see her face. I called her name and she didn’t respond. I could tell something was bothering her."
When Hannah signed off early, Katie decided to check in with Hannah's mom, Kelley. It wasn't unusual for Kelley to hear from Katie, she noted.
"It was just Katie being Katie," Kelley said. "She’s always checking on her students."
What Kelley didn't expect was Katie's above and beyond offer. "Hearing that Hannah was sad, I was heartbroken. … I just wanted to see her and talk about what’s going on," Katie explained.
"Having kids at home, I see how it’s affecting them, so I understood how she felt."
Katie asked if she could come by and sit with Hannah in the driveway and talk. "She said, ‘Since I’m a teacher, I consider this essential,'" Kelley recalled.
"That one sentence made me tear up. She’s got a husband and five kids at home, and she still considers my daughter’s well-being essential."
"Zoom is great, but I didn’t think it would be the same," Katie explained. "I’ve spent the school year with Hannah and know her heart. Being there in person means more."
So on April 3, she did just that. Hannah was outside with her mom and brother having a picnic when Katie pulled up.
"She just looked at me with disbelief, like she couldn’t believe I was there," Katie said. The two sat in the driveway 6 feet apart in compliance with social distancing during their visit.
"At first, I asked how she was doing and she said, ‘Happy,’ but she later told me that she was feeling sad," Katie explained. "I told her that I’m sad too. We talked a little about how feelings are important and that it’s okay to feel sad. I told her some things that make me feel better and reminded her I’m always here if she needs me."
Katie read some silly books to Hannah during the visit. That's when Kelley snapped a photo of the special moment between teacher and student, which she shared on Facebook. The post has since gone viral with over 21,000 shares.
"Hannah's class has a Zoom session each evening. Last night she got really sad and kinda shut down," Kelley wrote.
"Today her teacher came over and hung out for a bit. They chatted, read books, and just talked. This woman has FIVE kids at home and STILL she sat in my driveway for an hour to make sure Hannah was okay. Y'all…"
"It shows me that our teachers really do care about our kids," Kelley said. "It reminds me that it takes a village to raise children and our teachers are a vital part of our village."
"This whole season is hard and frustrating and scary, but as long as we take the time to look after one another, we’ll get through it," she continued. "If something’s wrong, say so. If you see someone struggling, reach out. Take care of each other."
Later, Kelley and Hannah talked about her feelings. Although she never was able to pinpoint what made her so sad, she did open up.
"She never did tell me why she felt sad. All she said was, ‘I just really feel sad and I don’t know why,'" Kelley said. "Looking back, I realize how big of a thing it was for a 7-year-old to admit."
Katie wants parents to remember how difficult this situation is for everyone. She encourages parents to cut themselves and their kids some slack. "This has been a difficult transition for all of us. … Our new normal is exhausting," she said.
"I told my parents the first day: if your child gets lunch, you’ve done a great job. I don’t want them to stress out over teaching [at home]. That’s what I am here for."
"The most meaningful part of remote learning has been afternoons together. I love seeing my students and getting to hear about their days," Katie said.
"We’re not just distance-learning, we’re distance-loving."
