Meet Haley and Angela, two of Dover Elementary School's talented teachers!  We were blessed with the opportunity to make a donation to support them and their fellow teachers last week as well as to sit down with them to visit about what the coming school year holds.

Haley and Angela are not just educators, they are mothers as well.  Due to their roles as teachers, the opportunity to homeschool their own children is not an option for them this year.  They have felt the same concerns as any parent would, but with a slightly different perspective.  Having a behind the scenes view of everything the schools, the staff, and the teachers are doing to protect both children and adults, they feel very safe and confident in sending their own children into the classroom later this month.

Both have seen their colleagues doing an excellent job of preparing their rooms and materials.  They see educators and staff working diligently to find creative and safe ways to follow the new protocols that seem to be changing daily as ideas are exchanged and solutions are found to assist in social distancing, sanitation, and other safety measures.

These educators would like everyone to know that despite the challenges and changes they are facing, their passion for teaching and caring for our kids has not changed.  In fact, knowing how stressful these uncertain times have been on kids, their resolve to be a source of learning, love, and comfort to the children in their classes is stronger than ever.

When asked what our school systems need right now to help the classrooms be as safe and successful as possible, Haley and Angela replied that most of all they could use prayers and positivity.  No one really knows for sure what this school year will look like with some students attending in person and some opting for a distance learning approach.  However, we can all be certain that if we go into this school year with patience, a positive attitude, and a determination to make it the best we can for the kids, we know we are doing all we can!

If you would like to play a part in helping to make sure that the kids have the best year possible, donations are being welcomed by teachers to supply their classrooms with the extra materials and extra activities they can use to create a safe and fun environment conducive to learning.  Many activities that would normally be done together and many materials that would normally be shared will have to be separated this year.  So provision to make sure that every classroom has what they need is welcomed.

We are grateful to Haley and Angela for taking the time to educate us on the upcoming school year.  We wish them and all the students and staff a safe and successful semester!