Fort Myers teachers reflect on pandemic's lasting impact on classrooms

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Six years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation, changing classrooms across the country as schools had to quickly shift to remote learning.

Teachers and students found themselves connecting through screens instead of in classrooms. WINK News reporter Mariaregina Mendoza spoke with local educators who were suddenly not just teaching but learning how to navigate new territory without any kind of instruction manual.

In March 2020, the majority of classrooms all over the country went quiet. Hallways that were once filled with students suddenly became empty. For teachers, the job they knew changed in just a matter of days.

Fifth-grade teacher Becky Poppy remembers the moment Three Oaks Elementary in Fort Myers switched to remote learning.

"I think, like everyone, I was afraid about what would happen with my students," Poppy said.

For Poppy, teaching has never just been about education. It's about connection, too.

"No child learned anything from you unless they care about you," Poppy said. "Fortunately, I had built a bond with my students, because this happened in March, I already had a relationship with them, and boy, did that emphasize the importance of relationship-building to me. And because of that, I was able to encourage them a little bit more."

Zoom calls, chat rooms and lessons on a screen became the new normal.

"Technology was key, the district rallied and gave us training… how to use Zoom… how to use our reading and math programs, we also learned from each other," Poppy said. "We had to rely on each other for new ideas."

For many teachers, the tools they learned during COVID still shape their classrooms. Third-grade teacher Lauren Minetti said those tools are now part of her everyday teaching.

"I feel that those tools are tools that I now use in my classroom to help keep engagement and collaboration," Minetti said.

During the pandemic, Nathan Shaker was principal at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School in Fort Myers.

"Across the nation, not everyone was necessarily prepared for remote learning," Shaker said. "To turn a day-to-day classroom into a virtual experience was something brand new… but we pivoted quickly."

The technology helped a lot, but there were challenges.

"There are matters of human resources, there are pieces that we had to try and maintain, and try and maintain a standard of performance within that time," Shaker said. "And those were hard, hard conversations."

Some students didn't show up for virtual meetings, but administrative support helped teachers contact families to make sure they were okay.

"We would have some kids that wouldn't show up for our meetings, but we also had administrative support where we could get in contact with the families to make sure that they were okay," Poppy said.

Despite the difficulties, educators persevered.

"Like any challenge, we persevered, and we did better," Shaker said. "We grew from it."

Minetti said teachers showed resilience during that time.

"I think we were very resilient at that time," Minetti said.

Poppy said the experience proved teachers could handle anything.

"If we can do that… we can do anything," Poppy said.

Many educators say they'll never forget that moment in time. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly 77% of public schools moved to online distance learning in the spring of 2020.