Durango teachers, stressed by the compounding demands placed on them by COVID-19, will get two days to step away from the classroom and sharpen their skills at the end of the month.

Two additional professional development days have been scheduled on Oct. 30, a Friday, and Nov. 2, a Monday.

The two days will allow teachers to huddle and trade strategies that have worked as they teach remotely and in-person, albeit with concessions such as social distancing and increased sanitation efforts made to deal with the novel coronavirus.

In addition, some teachers will be changing their learning model at the nine-week mark of the year as parents are given the option to move their children to one of three different learning models 9-R offers.

The district, to deal with the pandemic, is offering traditional five-day-a-week in-person classes; a blended model with three remote learning days and two days of in-person classes; and an all-remote learning option that includes at-home work and online classes and activities.

“Teachers will have both days to work independently, do planning, do collaboration with other teachers who are in the same learning model,” Snowberger said. “We’re all working extremely hard, and this offers us an opportunity to see if we can work smarter.”

Enrichment and academic events will be held for kindergarten to sixth grade students on Oct. 30, and it will count as an academic school day. Enrichment activities will also be held for K-6 students Nov. 2, but it will not count as a school day. Buses will run on both days.

Normal school activities will also be provided both days for all severe-needs students.

Students will need to complete registration forms on 9-R’s website by Friday to attend school on the two teacher professional development days. The form is also offered in Spanish.

parmijo@durangoherald.com