Stephanie, a teacher, I worked with years ago in Chicago met up with me when I was in Santa Fe, NM in September. We walked on a local hiking path, where the Chamisa shrub was in full bloom, Stephanie's favorite and the reason she chose that trail. As we walked, she told me about her life as a teacher. She has gone from teaching outdoor classes in the mountains surrounding Albuquerque to being in the classroom teaching more of a traditional science class, though there’s nothing all that traditional about teaching right now. Some of her students are with her in the classroom, and some are watching via Zoom. She said the kids in the classroom are great—they wash their hands, wear masks, and generally do what they need to be doing—but the challenge is simultaneously teaching kids remotely.

However, her school instituted full virtual classes from November through the end of January. Since all her students were on Zoom, Stephanie went to the desert and taught from there and also got in some epic hikes. I talked to Stephanie recently and today is her first day back in the classroom, she is looking forward to seeing the kids again after their break from in-person classes. She is also happy to have received the first half of her vaccination. Thank you to all the teachers out there doing your thing in this crazy time.