When Florida schools closed their doors for spring break last March, it was thought to be only for a week. But soon, a week turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.

"It has been a rough and rocky year," said LaTonya Starks, a teacher in Lee County.

The Florida Education Association held a press conference to mark the one-year anniversary of school's shutting down in the state because of the pandemic.

FEA President Andrew Spar praised teachers who found themselves thrown into a world of remote teaching at first and then had to deal with safety protocols, like masks and social distancing, when Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered schools to reopen in the fall.

Starks said keeping students separated has been particularly difficult for her.

"It's unfortunate because I actually have more students this year at this point than I've had in previous years, because you're losing a lot of teachers who are older and are unable to come in and work in this environment," she said.

According to the FEA, thousands of students and staff have tested positive for the virus in Florida. That has led to regular quarantines and classroom closures.

Spar said it's been disruptive to the educational process.

"So when we open schools in the fall and quite honestly even this summer, I think the focus has to be on the academic and emotional well being of our students," he said.

The FEA is pushing for more remedial classes and for high-stakes testing not to count against students this year.

Spar also called a teacher shortage "the biggest crisis we face" moving forward post-pandemic. He said it can be resolved with "salary equity" from the legislature.

Parents said they are grateful for the support their children have gotten from educators in dealing with all the changes.

"I remember my daughters teacher last year at her school, she would call weekly and check in and my daughter asked, "Why is she checking in?" and I told her, "Because she cares about you. She is making a phone call to everybody," said Tabitha Pattishall.

Pattishall said she hopes the strengthened bonds remain long after the pandemic is over.