Welcome to the fourteenth installment of our #epicenterexperience series!
Epicenter Experience is a video series where consumers like you share exactly what it’s like living in NYC during quarantine. We’ve gathered personal stories about how New Yorkers were impacted financially, emotionally, or physically by COVID-19. Watch Valerie’s story below!
Valerie shares her experience teaching a kindergarten class during the pandemic.
As a kindergarten teacher, Valerie had to transition quickly to remote teaching. She recalls having a rocky experience learning new technology, but she never lost personal connection with her students. With daily classes and weekly one-on-one meetings, she was able stay in touch with how each student was feeling.
Remote classes also brought her closer to her students’ parents, and she expresses her thankfulness for her community: “We helped each other, and we came together as a community despite all the craziness that was happening around us.”
She recounts that the coronavirus outbreak occurred at the same time as the killing of George Floyd. With the help of dolls and crayons, she was able to introduce engaging discussions about race with her students.
With so many new challenges, Valerie has had plenty of work to do. As she remarks, “During the coronavirus, I worked harder to educate my students than I ever have.”
Watch her full story here: