At the end of past school years, Laura Pearson could close her eyes, tick through her English curriculum in her head, and assure herself she’d taught her students what they needed to know.
She’s not so sure that’s the case following the 2020-21 school year.
As Idaho Falls bounced between in-person and hybrid learning this year, Pearson’s typical calendar went out the window. She didn’t follow her usual timeline or teach topics the way she had in the past. Now she closes her eyes and worries: “Did I teach this? Did I teach that well enough? Are they going to be okay?”
“I feel completely stressed because I feel like I let down my students,” Pearson told EdNews last week.
Her end of year stress punctuates what many teachers say has been the most stressful year of their careers.
First, a global pandemic forced educators to pivot to new learning models, reach students remotely, and in some cases teach virtual and live classes at the same time.