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First-grader Salmon Mitchell, 6, said seeing his teacher brightened his day.

“I was happy because I miss her and I like to go to school a lot,\" he said. \"I like the help she gives me and I like when she helps me do good.\"

\"PHOTO:
Courtesy Ted Madden/Mesquite ISD
PHOTO: Teacher Brandy Hurtado surprises a student at his home since schools have been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
>

Jennifer LaPlante, principal of Gray Elementary School, lauded Hurtado and the whole staff for their creativity with staying connected during such a chaotic time.

“I say it daily. I am blessed with amazing staff and I am so proud of them. I was not surprised,\" LaPlante said of Hurtado's visits. \"This is who they are and they are passionate about what we do at [Gray Elementary School] and for our kids and our family.\"

Hurtado said she's happy to bring a bit of \"normalcy\" and happiness to her students.

“This [pandemic] is stressful for everybody. Teachers had to turn the teaching world upside down within a matter of hours… I gave [my students] a little bit of normalcy and sometimes that’s really important for kids,\" Hurtado said. \"They shouldn’t be traumatized by everything that’s going on.\"

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