A recent survey indicates people are appreciating teachers more than ever​.

A University of Phoenix/Harris Poll surveyed more than 2,000 people across the country.

It showed 82% of people said they have a greater appreciation for the work that teachers do. The poll also found that 81% of people felt teachers have done the best they could during the pandemic under the circumstances.

At Ozona Elementary School in Palm Harbor, students said teachers have helped them through a difficult year.

"They helped me learn a lot this year even though we couldn't be close," said Kira Vollmer, a third-grader.

Lyza Rutkoski is a teacher at Ozona Elementary School.

"This year has been so strange that to receive the kind of love we're getting right now feels so good," Rutkoski said.

She said with social distancing measures in place, communication has been a challenge.

"We've just had to find different ways to communicate with each other and to learn in different ways," she said.

Rutkoski said she's been teaching for 16 years, but this year will always stand out.

"Oh boy, I will remember this year by talking through cloth all year," she laughed. "Honestly though, it's been about perseverance."

Teachers said they focused on making sure students stayed safe and felt motivated.

For fourth-grader Ella Haasch, it was about the little things her teacher did to make things feel "normal."

"She always greets me at the door when I come in. She's always in a good mood," she said.

Parents credit teachers for helping their children stay on track academically.

Ozona PTA President Emily Haasch said communication has been critical.

She said the PTA boosted its social media presence and held fundraisers for the school virtually to keep the campus connected.

"There were some challenges, but quite honestly the silver lining of it is I feel at Ozona we're even more connected because of the pandemic," she said.

Ozona Principal Lisa Freeman said in many cases, relationships between students and teachers have been strengthened.

She said ​thinking about what her teachers have accomplished  this year makes her emotional.

"They are beyond spectacular," she said. "If I talk too much about it I'll get sentimental and cry because in a time where everything was difficult, they made it seem so simple because they not only pit their heads into what needed to be done but their hearts as well."