One principal is wearing many hats amid the coronavirus pandemic to maintain a sense of normalcy for her students.
Janet Throgmorton, the principal of Fancy Farm Elementary in western Kentucky, has a responsibility to 184 students ranging from preschool to sixth grade.
When she experienced a shortage of bus drivers, she didn’t hesitate to step in so that kids made it home safely.
According to “Good Morning America,” two of her bus drivers are currently battling COVID.
"The first couple of times I drove it was really comical because I'm on the bus as the bell rings, as the kids are dismissed," Throgmorton told the outlet.
"The kids are like, 'Why are you driving the bus? Do you know how to drive the bus? I say, 'Yes. I got my license to do it,” she explained.
And she wasn’t lying. Despite serving as the school’s principal for 11 years, Throgmorton recently got her commercial driver’s license so that she could be a substitute bus driver on field trips in order to save the district money.
The outlet noted that Throgmorton has even picked up students in her own car and taken them to school after they missed the bus.
She explains that while her students haven’t been greatly affected by the virus, it has taken a toll on her staff.
"It's been very difficult for bus drivers, aides, cafeteria workers -- it affects every aspect of what we do," she explained, adding that schools are still considered a “germ area.”
She told the outlet it’s her duty to assist as she’s able.
"You help where you need to help because that's what you need to do,” she said.
“We've been short custodians, so you help take out trash. Our goal for the entire school year is to have kids in these buildings because we definitely believe that's where the best learning takes place."
Not only has Throgmorton assumed the role of bus driver, she even pitched in to work in the cafeteria during lunch and made house calls to help remote learners set up their work space.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram