By Stacy Winstryg

If you are like me, quarantine has felt surreal. I don’t think any of us could have imagined we would experience times like these. I am hoping that by the time this article goes to print, we will be returning back to a somewhat normal life.

The Vail Parent Network has always known that Vail teachers are our local rock stars. No one works harder or dedicates more of themselves to our children. While we’ve been confined to our homes, so have our children. It has been physically, emotionally, and socially hard. But when Governor Ducey announced the closure of our schools, our rock stars got to work. With some innovative quick thinking on the part of the Vail School District, an online learning system was quickly put in place for our students.

As a parent, I have been touched by the outpouring of support and concern for our children from the staff. I have received countless emails, my high school children have been assigned a contact person to stay connected with, and I have listened in on weekly Zoom meetings. These are just a few of the ways our school is stepping up during this unprecedented time. I have also seen our teachers make themselves available to our children at all hours to make sure they are staying engaged socially and academically. It has been inspiring to watch. My love and gratitude for this group of people has been magnified even more.

So, to all our rock stars in Vail… thank you! You are to be commended for your efforts. Teachers really do make the world go around.