After completing our first full month of in-person classes, I continue to be amazed each day by the heroic efforts of our teachers and staff. Hamilton County Schools was one of the first systems to open classrooms and the first large district in the state of Tennessee to operate in-person classes, and I am so proud of the work our team has done to make this transition safely. Our schools have completely reinvented the way we educate our students to ensure that - even in the midst of a pandemic - our students are continuing to learn and grow. Once again, our teachers and staff have risen to the occasion and are tackling the present challenges in impressive ways.
We know the changes our teachers and staff are navigating are not easy, and I applaud our school board for recognizing these difficulties and approving some shifts to the 2020-2021 calendar that will allow more time for our teachers to prepare during this unprecedented school year. As the parent of a Hamilton County Schools student, I recognize these calendar changes may present challenges for families. Our team crafted these adjustments with that in mind, and tried to select days and breaks that were already scheduled. I cannot thank you enough for your continued grace and patience as we navigate this unusual school year.
These changes in the calendar will provide some breathing room for our teachers and staff who are going above and beyond for our students, like David Vandzant, the Fab Lab instructor at STEM School. Despite being faced with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Vanzant has found creative ways for local businesses and organizations to still engage with students, which is a vital part of the curriculum. We also have people like Beverly Stone and Starla Terry, school nurses at Middle Valley Elementary, who launched the COVID-19 Call Center in March to help answer questions, and continue to support the Call Center during the school year while also serving students as school nurses.
These are just a few of the many heroic stories being written in Hamilton County Schools every day. You can read more HCS Heroes stories on our website, or follow along on our social media channels with #HCSHeroes. We appreciate all of the support our schools have received over the last month, and the continued commitment of our community as we push through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. We truly are #BetterTogether!
