School District 1 Superintendent Pete Kilbride says the greatest loss during virtual learning was the social/emotional connection for students. (Photo from Sheridan Media files)
Pete Kilbride thinks the biggest downside to online learning as initiated in Wyoming schools last spring was that the school districts went in without preparation.
One day students were in classes, and the next, they weren’t.
But Kilbride, who’s superintendent of Sheridan County School District 1 – the schools in Big Horn, Ranchester and Dayton – said in his opinion the greatest hardship to students was the loss of the social/emotional connection.
He said he thinks that’s especially true for the elementary school students, because they’re so closely connected to their teachers. Students continued their classes online, via computer, but they didn’t have the personal day-to-day contact with their teachers.