Nurses and medical professionals have rightfully been given much praise during the coronavirus era. They have put their lives on the line to help members of the community who were suffering from the virus.

Late last week, we were glad to see another group of people who have made valiant efforts to help the community during this crisis receive recognition: Teachers.

At a South Butler County School District meeting last Thursday, it was noted that the challenges faced by teachers switching back and forth between remote and in-person learning was akin to “juggling chain saws.”

Teachers across the county worked hard to try to maintain a sense of normalcy for students of all ages who missed out on numerous facets of their school experience that cannot be replaced.

This often meant changing plans on how to teach classes on a week-to-week basis, switching back and forth between having students sit in front of them in a classroom or in front of a computer screen.

South Butler superintendent David Foley said he didn’t receive any complaints from teachers regarding what they were asked to do.

“I’m hoping people join me in maybe sending a message to your teacher and explain how thankful we are,” Foley said during Thursday’s meeting.

We’re on board with that. We also agree with Foley’s assertion that students deserve credit as well.

Although being a student during a once-in-a-century pandemic may one day make for good stories, many students missed out on opportunities that most take for granted — being able to sit next to and socialize with their classmates during the school day, playing on a sports team and attending prom and graduation.

Many rites of passage for students of all ages were put on hold or canceled due to COVID-19. So, kudos to the students who made the best of a bad situation.

The good news out of all of this is that teachers and students alike figured out how to switch between learning formats during an emergency situation that could be applied to future scenarios.

Foley said the pandemic also improved the district’s technological capabilities — and the district may continue to use its remote-instruction system for tutoring and other uses when the pandemic is over.

The teachers in school districts across the county deserve much credit for being flexible, thinking outside the box and doing whatever they needed to do to ensure their students got a good education during the pandemic.

And county students should be recognized for being good sports and rising to the occasion, despite disappointments caused by COVID-19.

— NCD