JENKS — It’s been a confusing start to the year for Jenks Public Schools students, who have returned to the classroom after spending the past few weeks in distance learning.
Chase McKnight, a junior at Jenks High School, felt excited to be back on campus but nervous about how the day would unfold as he waited for the first bell to ring Thursday morning.
“It’s just kind of antsy,” McKnight said of being back at school for the first time since March, when districts originally transitioned to distance learning toward the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m not sure what to expect. The teachers, I’m sure, are not sure what to expect. Everything is up in the air right now.”
The district started the school year through remote instruction on Aug. 24 due to Tulsa County experiencing a high rate of community transmission as well as recommendations from health and state education officials.
Last week, Jenks announced that schools would reopen in person because local cases were “substantially” lower than they were when the original decision was made in early August.
The announcement has prompted two teachers — one at the high school and one at the freshman academy — to resign amid health concerns.
District spokesman Rob Loeber said Jenks will work to accommodate teachers who are concerned about their safety or believe they’re at risk if they present medical documentation of a specific condition or need. That could mean changing their schedules or transferring them to the virtual academy.
“Whatever the case may be, we want to be open and willing to work with them as much as possible to give them some peace of mind,” Loeber said. “If they can’t or do not provide medical documentation, then we’re going to have to act in what’s the best interest for our students first. So if there’s only two sections of a certain subject, we can’t create a virtual teacher just for two sections.”
Jenks High School Principal David Beiler said it’s critical to maintain the safety and health of students and employees while they’re at school. Being cognizant and respectful of those who are concerned with coming back to the classroom is a major balancing act.
At the same time, Beiler believes in-person learning is much more effective for students than distance learning. Kids, as well as teachers, feel energized when they collaborate together.
Thursday almost seemed like a second first day of school for Jenks. Although the district is in its fourth week of the school year, the emphasis wasn’t on instruction as students re-adjusted to the classroom experience.
“All of our staff have been very clear with each other that we know our students have a lot of social, emotional and mental health needs just from being out for six months, from experiencing some of the emotions that have been caused by things just going on with the pandemic,” Beiler said. “We realize that today, first and foremost, is a day to make connections with our students.
“Even though they’ve made long-distance connections over the computer, this is an opportunity to get to talk to people in person, make that human connection and really establish a better relationship with kids that would help propel us through the year, whether we go back to distance learning or we stay at school for the remainder.”
Shelley Olds, who teaches AP painting and ceramics at Jenks High School, said students missed out on building critical relationships with teachers during distance learning.
“I really think that it’s time for us to get back to doing what we do best, which is loving on our students and giving them a quality education in a physical classroom,” Olds said.
VIDEO: Oklahoma jumps to 4th in U.S. for COVID-19 positivity, 9th in new cases
Gallery: Back-to-school photos from northeast Oklahoma
OWASSO FIRST DAY

Crossing guard Don Griffin works on the first day of in-person instruction at Owasso schools in September.
Owasso back to school

Owasso Public Schools resumed in-person classes on Thursday, Sept. 17. ART HADDAWAY/Owasso Reporter
Read more: Owasso students return to class for in-person instruction
OWASSO FIRST DAY

A bus driver travels her route on the first day of in-person instruction at Owasso schools Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020.
Owasso back to school

Owasso Public Schools resumed in-person classes on Thursday, Sept. 17. ART HADDAWAY/Owasso Reporter
OWASSO FIRST DAY

Dalynne Simon(left) and Cierra Kelley make their way to school on the first day of in-person instructino at Owasso schools Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD
UNION FIRST DAY

Students are reminded to wear a mask amidst other more traditional first day of school chalk drawings on the sidewalk as they arrive at Union High School Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
JENKS FIRST DAY

Senior Zen Zam makes her way to class on the first day of in-person instruction at Jenks High School Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Click here to read about the first day for Jenks Public Schools
Owasso back to school

Owasso Public Schools resumed in-person classes on Thursday, Sept. 17. ART HADDAWAY/Owasso Reporter
TPS FIRST DAY

Michael Hendricks teaches his fifth-grade English Language Arts class virtually from his classroom at Wayman Tisdale Fine Arts Academy on Aug. 31.
TPS First Day

East Central Junior High School teacher Jonnatan Montes talks with Tulsa Public schools superintendent Deborah Gist in an empty classroom in Tulsa, OK, August 31, 2020.
Click here to read about the return for Tulsa Public Schools
Owasso back to school

Owasso Public Schools resumed in-person classes on Thursday, Sept. 17. ART HADDAWAY/Owasso Reporter
TPS FIRST DAY

Michael Hendricks teaches his fifth-grade English Language Arts class virtually from his classroom at Wayman Tisdale Fine Arts Academy Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.
Click here to read about the return for Tulsa Public Schools
Jennings, Oklahoma

Sheryl Guin teaches third grade on the first day of class in Jennings, Oklahoma, on Aug. 5, 2020. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
UNION FIRST DAY

Sophomore James Stevenson makes his way to the entrance for the first day of school at Union High School as the sun rise is reflected in the school's windows Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
UNION FIRST DAY

A sign on a school bus door reminds students to wear a mask on the first day of school at Union High School Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
TPS First Day

Teacher Kameron Keller hands out technology to sixth-grader Kaylee Palacious at Dolores Huerta Elementary School in Tulsa, OK, August 31, 2020. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
Click here to read about the return for Tulsa Public Schools
UNION FIRST DAY

Chalk mask reminders, along with more traditional first day of school messages, are seen on the sidewalk as students arrive for the first day of school at Union High School Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Bixby First Day

Colleen Simpson carries a tub of supplies as she arrives on the first day of school at Bixby High School in Bixby, Okla., on Monday, August 17, 2020. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Bixby First Day

Students sit apart from each other on the first day of school at Bixby High School in Bixby, Okla., on Monday, August 17, 2020. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Bixby First Day

Sage Barner (foreground) walks down a hallway on the first day of school at Bixby High School in Bixby, Okla., on Monday, August 17, 2020. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
UNION FIRST DAY

Senior Matthew Minton jokingly wore a hazmat suit for the first day of school at Union High School Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Jennings, Oklahoma

Karen Page teaches fifth grade on the first day of class in Jennings, Oklahoma, on Aug. 5, 2020. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
UNION FIRST DAY

Juniors Chloee Kelley(left) and Jushua Bisesi talk as they wait to enter for the first day of school at Union High School Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
JENKS FIRST DAY

Sophomore Rafael Orozco gets directions from Amy Hudson, executive director of student services, on the first day of in-person instruction at Jenks High School Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
BROKEN ARROW FIRST DAY

Principal Nate Hutchings greets first-grader Jackson Snider and his mother, Amanda Snider, on the first day of school at Rosewood Elementary School Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Click here to read about the first day for Broken Arrow Public Schools
JENKS FIRST DAY

Sophomores Tia Orr(left), Grace Sinor and Kylee McCoy wait to enter the building on the first day of in-person instruction at Jenks High School Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Click here to read about the first day for Jenks Public Schools
JENKS FIRST DAY

Trumpet player Ben Galles (left) tries to stay warm during band practice before school on the first day of in-person instruction at Jenks High School Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Click here to read about the first day for Jenks Public Schools
BROKEN ARROW FIRST DAY

McKenzie Owen hugs her son Wallace Owen goodbye before leaving him at his kindergarten class on the first day of school at Rosewood Elementary School Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Click here to read about the first day for Broken Arrow Public Schools