JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Dedicated and determined describes the passion Kirk Altman has for his Alimacani Elementary special education students.
"I love the challenge," he told First Coast News. "I love the excitement when I can see a student grab a concept I'm trying to get across."
Altman comes from a family of teachers, his wife included. She recorded him Tuesday morning doing wake up exercises with his students.
"It's just our typical morning routine that I was trying to get the kids back engaged with, really to bring us back a little bit of normalcy," he said.
Online learning does present a challenge. Because of HIPPA laws, Altman says he can't see his students on the live-stream.
"I am missing a component as to whether or not they are understanding what I am doing," he said. "Conversely, when I hear them laugh or hear them talk, they are actually getting some of the content I am trying to get across."
Story-time is also a little different. Instead of reading in a circle, he's now reading through a camera on his computer. The method has changed, but his mission hasn't.
"Whatever tricks, whatever techniques, however it works, I am going to try to grab their child and move them along and become the best learners they can be, the best human being they can be," Altman said.