As opposed to past years, fall semester will end this January with semester exams closing it off. COVID-19 altered this 2020-2021 school year by a few weeks, pushing back all expected dates. Now with a new approaching semester, online students will have a distinct schedule.
Starting January 20th, after fall semester & an early release 4-day weekend ends, online students will have different virtual “core” class teachers. “Core Classes” are the essential classes that students must take- math, english, science and social studies.
“I took it because I wanted a challenge…I feel this will push me to be creative and a better teacher,” said Yolanda Pimentel, Braswell HS Algebra 2 teacher, on becoming one of the new virtual teachers.
Virtual teachers will be from different Denton ISD high school campuses but they will be teaching all connected learners. Each campus will have its own department and be in charge of said subject.
“I believe I will have 7 different Algebra 2 classes so I will divide it up by class periods,” said Ms. Pimentel.
DISD allowed students to choose between connected or face to face learning, but this wasn’t the same for teachers at the time.
Teachers had to battle between both teaching their students in class and teaching those virtually.
“I am always working, but I feel like I’m failing to provide a great physics education to both my face-to-face and my connected learners.” said Corrin Retzer, Physics teacher.
As teachers struggled to maintain both groups, students were ultimately affected by this as well.
“There have been moments where teachers did not answer,” said Senior, Jack Bishop.
“But if I could choose one thing that needs improvement is that the pace of work is distributed evenly.”
The hope and intention of this new change is so connected learners can be personally taught by teachers who will have their primary focus on them as this has been the issue for the past semester.
Though because of the new modified spring calendar and finals week, much information has yet to be released but virtual classes are set to begin this spring semester.
“Stay connected and communicate… Effort and hard work goes a long way” said Ms. Pimentel.
