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Teachers eager to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations

NORTH HILLS, Pa. — Teachers are waiting their turn to receive the COVID-19 vaccines, but it’s still unclear if that will be weeks or even months away.

Missi Marangoni, the French teacher at North Hills High School, is one of many teachers who had to adjust her curriculum on the fly when the school first shifted to fully remote, then hybrid, then back to all-remote, and now returning to hybrid this week.

“With hybrid, we are able to get hands-on, but that’s only for the kids that come in,” Marangoni said.

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Jen Dipasquale, a science teacher at North Hills, said her classes are filled with labs, which is tough to teach online. She hopes receiving the vaccine will get more kids back in the classroom.

“Honestly, I might cry the day they are sitting in front of me again,” Dipasquale said.

Teachers are included in phase 1B, the next group eligible for the vaccination.

However, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said they don’t know exactly when phase 1B will begin here in Pennsylvania.

“It would be great if I had an actual date or time frame that would definitely ease some anxiety, but just knowing that it’s coming sooner than later is honestly a hopeful feeling for me,” Dipasquale said.

Teachers in Allegheny County may have to wait even longer before getting the shot because on Wednesday, county leaders said with there being more hospitals in the county, they will need more time to get health care workers vaccinated first.

“We’ve learned to roll with the punches and adapt. And whenever it’s time for us to do it, we’re ready,” Marangoni said.

The teachers said kids learn best being in school inside the classroom, so they hope once fully vaccinated, that means a return to normal learning.