CLEMMONS, N.C. – As schools started phasing students in for in-person learning after the holidays, some parents opted to keep their children at home for remote learning.

Sarah Vaderpool has a son in kindergarten and a daughter in second grade at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. She says the time at home with her kids has been special.

"I have gotten to see my kids, which is cool. We get to spend our downtime together, which I love. I work afternoons and weekends. I've actually enjoyed our time together. They go to a Spanish Immersion School, so I've gotten to learn some Spanish alongside them," she says. 

Vanderpool and her husband decided to keep their children at home for remote learning. She says they talked for weeks before making the decision.

"They would really like to be in school with their classmates. They are missing their friends. We just felt like with the infection rate, what it is right now, the safest and best option is to keep them at home," Vanderpool says.

She knows this would not be possible without her childrens' teachers.

"They're doing two jobs. They're teaching kids in the classroom and they're making sure the kids that are virtually logged on and engaged, doing their work. I just can't say enough amazing things about their teachers," she added.