Yukon Teacher Reflects On Having Students Back In The Classroom

Three weeks ago, when News 9 first met up with Deana Clingerman, a teacher at Skyview Intermediate in Yukon, her classroom was full of empty seats.

This week, Yukon has transitioned back to in person classes.

"It's so much different being in a room with a person, instead of being online," she said.

For weeks, Clingerman made relationships with her students from behind a computer screen because of COVID-19.

Now while the students still use the computers, she's right beside them.

"We are able to build comradery. We can brainstorm together. We can do activities together," said Clingerman.

Still though, it's a process for Clingerman, the 25-year veteran is learning to teach socially distant.

"Instead of doing hugs, we did a lot of waves. We did a lot of air high fives to express a great answer," she said.

During the weeks of virtual teaching, Clingerman said having her students in person would be something a little more special this year. And now, masked up and spread out, she and her students are back together again.

"It's just a fun time to have kids back in the class," she said.