Mary Phipps worried the night before the new reality of her children's distance-learning school day would be put to the test.
But in a few days' time the Crystal mom of two boys, ages 8 and 13, said she was not nearly as overwhelmed. Her sons still were learning through the online platforms and she'd been in frequent communication with their teachers: "We're all learning as we go, and I'm confident it'll keep getting easier," she said.
School officials across the metro area echoed similar messages last week as they thanked parents for demonstrating flexibility and patience. The transition has been a mostly smooth one, they say, crediting collaboration and communication, as well as two weeks of preparation time that Gov. Tim Walz afforded to develop distance-learning plans that outline expectations and resources.
The need to get it right for students became more apparent as the week progressed: Walz said chances are "relatively slim" that students will be returning to classrooms this school year.
Christine Tucci Osorio, superintendent of the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District, said she believed there's the potential for education to be swiftly and permanently transformed.
"Educators are having to innovate in ways they never thought imaginable even just a few weeks ago," she said. "The pace at which teachers are learning and applying new skills is remarkable."
Thanks to previously scheduled spring breaks, two of the state's largest districts — St. Paul and Minneapolis — won't be putting their plans into action until Monday.
One of the biggest challenges for districts has been identifying and providing for students who didn't already have home access to internet and laptops or tablets.