LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Teachers all over the Las Vegas valley have had to make all sorts of adjustments and changes in order to keep our kids learning. Now, their hard work during this unusual time for education is being recognized as part of Teacher Appreciation Week.
“Who would’ve thought I would be able to do this during a pandemic?”
It’s been a year like no other for so many valley teachers and it’s been no different for Kristan Nigro, a kindergarten teacher at Schorr Elementary School. Shifting from online to in-person teaching was a big adjustment, but Nigro was able to keep her kids on track.
“They’re learning. They’re growing and they’re amazing little people.”
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Vicki Kreidel, a second-grade teacher at Heard Elementary School, has stuck with online teaching. She says there was a big learning curve using new technology, but it’s a team effort with her students.
“The kids are becoming more familiar, and in some ways more tech-savvy than me so when one of us has tech issues, they can help troubleshoot it because we have to help each other,” she said.
They are among the more than 18,000 teachers in the Clark County School District being recognized as part of Teacher Appreciation Week.
“I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all our teachers. Our teachers play a crucial role in our community,” CCSD Supt. Jesus Jara said.
A role Rancho High School teacher Rueben D’Silva takes seriously. He says one of the most rewarding things is to hear his own students sharing their appreciation.
“When you receive an email from a student thanking your work or having an impact on their lives, or a former student you haven’t heard from in years. That does make it all worth it in the end,” he said.
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Sandra Cosey is a kindergarten teacher at Legacy Traditional School, an independent charter school. She says she got emails of thanks from parents for being willing to have online tutoring and in-person teaching.
“I pushed for it. I wanted to make sure my students got all the support that they needed, so I continued,” she said.
Kreidel says true appreciation for her is playing a role in shaping the future for her students.
“You hope that whatever seeds you plant, continue to grow as they learn and mature,” she said.
Teacher Appreciation Week events continue for CCSD as it honors Nevada’s teacher of the year on Thursday.
Since 1984, the National Parent Teacher Association has designated one week in May as a special time to honor teachers.
