COPPELL, Texas — With so few students physically in their classrooms right now, a group of Coppell ISD third grade teachers is getting creative to return those faces to class.

Though some students returned to in-person learning this week, most of the classrooms at Valley Ranch Elementary are still being used for virtual learning--classrooms where teachers like Nadya Gulam sit and try to keep track of which screen is which.

“I actually have three going at one time. I have my iPad to show instruction underneath, and then I have my Zoom navigation with my laptop, and then I have another laptop where I see their faces,” said Gulam.

However, unlike a lot of other teachers right now, she can also simply look up into her classroom to see those students' faces - sort of.

Gulam, along with her fellow third grade teachers Jillian Schroyer, Brooke Blake, and Clare Skertchly, has filled the desks in her classroom with headshot pictures of their students. Each third-grader's face is printed off and attached to a wooden stick, taped to the chair they will one day sit in, if and when all students return.

“It just felt kind of empty and together we decided that this was a great idea,” said Gulam.

The teachers said it’s a bit like the Texas Rangers putting the faces of fans in their stands, but these faces may actually serve a bit more of a purpose. Schroyer said it’s helped her get to know her class a bit better, more easily putting faces with their names than she can on a Zoom window, even though some of those faces are a bit older now.

“Maybe their first grade pictures, their second grade pictures?” said Schroyer. “They all look so different on the screen.”

They said it’s also helped those students on the video calls feel a bit more engaged with their class. Gulam said she held off the reveal of the faces to her students until the first day of class.

“They wanted to know what table they’re at, who they’re sitting by, and it doesn’t matter that they’re not in class they just wanted to know, who’s their table partner,” said Skertchly who also surprised her kids.

The interpersonal side of the classroom has certainly been missed by many teachers and students currently distance learning. The Valley Ranch teachers said they had no idea how big of a loss that would be when the COVID-19 pandemic started changing their world.

However, they said even the small step of the faces on sticks helps.

“It’s strange not having kids in the hallway, not having them in here, but now I get to come in and say good morning to them each morning,” said Schroyer.

“It’s for them. Like if this were an empty classroom, if I didn’t see any of their pictures, I would forget that I’m here to be with them,” said Skertchly.