Photo from Caitlin Steele
Instructing physical education has been a challenge for teachers in Summit County and across the county throughout the pandemic.
Public health regulations and school rules implemented to reduce transmission risk resulted in a much different gym class for kids than many adults remember growing up. And though local teachers used every opportunity during warmer months to have kids exercise outside, where transmission risk is lower, recent colder months have made that job more difficult.
Caitlin Steele, physical education teacher at Dillon Valley Elementary School, saw that first-hand. At times earlier this year, she instructed gym class in classrooms rather than the gymnasium, due to COVID-19 guidelines and rules intended to prevent the mixing of cohorts. That created a physical education situation where kids were limited in the space and equipment they could use. Rather than roaming, free play riding scooters, playing with parachutes or climbing ropes, spid