The pandemic’s impact on education had a profound effect not just on students and their parents but also on educators.
As learning moved away from the classroom, teachers had to pivot and develop new and innovative ways to reach their students to ensure that their education did not suffer because of COVID-19.
Tuesday, three educators within the San Diego Unified School District were honored for their excellence in teaching throughout a year of unprecedented change.
Fifth-grade teacher Thomas Courtney of Chollas Mead Elementary was among the honored educators.
"Every teacher has their own innovative way of bringing things to the classroom, and so once I figured that out, that this is just another hurdle to cross, to connect with students, that's when things really started taking off," Courtney told KPBS Midday Edition on Wednesday.
In addition to Courtney, Sharon Apple from Hoover High School and Guadalupe Celedon of CPMA Middle School were also honored as the district's teachers of the year.