PARMA, Ohio — A kindergarten classroom at Ridge-Brook Elementary is one of Kelly Hovan’s favorite places to be, and her days are slowly looking how she remembers them looking two years ago, before the coronavirus pandemic suddenly changed everything. 

“I briefly can go back and remember us getting an email from the superintendent saying get some materials together for your students to send home, and there really wasn’t a direct reason,” Hovan said. 

The coronavirus pandemic forced classrooms across the country to go virtual.

Hovan transitioned to teaching through Parma Virtual Learning Academy, a platform created by the Parma City School District in response to the pandemic. 

“It just it was kind of amazing to me that, you know, I did have that effect on them, that they were still able to learn,” Hovan said. 

Hovan said balancing her personal life and her more than 15-year career as a teacher during this pandemic was difficult, and coming back to the classroom for the 2021-22 school year required another adjustment.

“The last two years have definitely been very challenging and [caused] a lot more reflection on my part as a teacher,” she said. 

Hovan said during the past two years, teacher-parent relationships have strengthened and she’s learned how resilient teachers and students can be.

Hovan made hand sanitizer, tissues and wipes permanent additions to her classroom. Masks, although optional for teachers and students, still cover some faces. 

Hovan said school is like a second home, and she hopes teachers and students alike are in person to stay. 

“I think it’s a safe environment, you know, I think that now it almost feels like we’re getting back to normal,” she said. “So that’s kind of like for once, you actually see an end, almost.”