It’s been more than two months since students went back to the classroom in Seminole County, and so far, this year has been like no other.  

Susan Tolksdorf has two children in the Seminole County School district. ​

“This year has been challenging from a parent’s perspective,” she said. 

They went back in August for in-person learning, and Tolksdorf appreciates the teachers’ hard work this year. 

“They seem to be doing as best as they can, despite the changes that are happening,” said Tolksdorf. 

It has been a difficult year for administrators and teachers – trying to instruct students with several learning options.   

Michael Lawrence is the communications officer for Seminole County Public Schools.

“Our teachers are having to scramble to do multiple methods of education — things that they’ve never had to do before,” he told Spectrum News 13. 

And for that reason, Lawrence said the superintendent, Dr. Walt Griffin, is asking the Florida Department of Education to forgo letter grades for districts and individual schools.   

“It wouldn’t be adequate or fair to really assign letter grades to our schools and to our teachers based off these performances, based off the challenging year that we’re having as a result of the pandemic,” Lawrence said. 

Each year, districts are graded with letters just like the students — with the exception of one year, the Seminole County District has always received an A.   

“We’re 100 percent behind the accountability piece. We believe in it — as evident by the fact that we are a high performing district,” Lawrence continued. 

Superintendent Griffin isn’t the only one speaking up. He’s getting support from Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins in Orange County. 

In a statement, she said, “I also believe teachers, support staff and principals have worked too hard this year to have their efforts judged by a single and inaccurate letter grade.”

Tolksdorf said state leaders should consider all of the challenges school districts are facing this year. 

“I think it’s important that they take into account all of the different variables that come up with schooling in a pandemic,” Tolksdorf said. 

There is no word yet on when the Florida Department of Education may make a decision on this request.