PORTLAND, Ore. — For more than a month teachers have been out of classrooms and getting creative connecting with their kids.
That includes Kelli Ryan, a second grade teacher at Oak Grove Elementary in the North Clackamas School District. She’s been sending her students videos to help them in their distance learning from home.
But while there have been success stories to talk about in regards to distance learning, Ryan can’t help but think about the students who’ve had a more difficult time making the transition.
She said she’s seen all sorts of national news stories talking about how distance learning has been working out for many families and contacted KGW to talk about her perspective.
The job for Ryan and countless other teachers across the country is different and difficult right now.
“Every teacher I work with is working more hours now than they did in the classroom just to make sure that we are connecting with families,” said Ryan.
In this new world of distance learning, while everyone is trying their best, Ryan said some kids may be homeless, their families are potentially jobless, and they're falling through the cracks.
“You kind of get a little piece of a student's reality, how their life is, when you see a student that logs in at 10 o’clock at night,” Ryan said.
“The achievement gap that we're all trying to close, it just gets wider,” she said.
Ryan said success stories associated with distance learning is one reality, but not everyone's reality. She hopes state education leaders take that to heart.
“State standards and everything, they’re going to all have to give a little grace next year when we move into a new grade, and maybe (students are) not at the level they're supposed to be in reading or math or whatever,” said Ryan.
For now, Ryan is doing what she can to support her kids.
“I miss you guys so much. Giving you a big virtual hug,” she said to her students in a recent video.
“We are all going to be here when this is over. We're all here for you now,” said Ryan when asked what she’d want to tell her students and parents.
“I’m going to get a little choked up,” she said.
To teachers everywhere, she’s got a message of encouragement.
“Teachers, we are strong and we can handle this.”