teachers

The pandemic has been especially hard on Ashley Gaska. But she says it's also made her more resilient and determined to instill the values of her loved ones in her students.

The state's four FEMA sites and select pharmacies are some of the places where school staff of all ages can get their shots.

His announcement comes after CVS Pharmacy said it would follow President Joe Biden's less restrictive directive to vaccinate school employees regardless of age.

Gov. Ron DeSantis cites the increase in available vaccines and the approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as reasons for expanding the rollout.

DeSantis says Florida will use a portion of the “tens of thousands” of extra doses FEMA sites bring to the state to vaccinate teachers, law enforcement and firefighters who are 50 and older.

Chair Elizabeth Andersen says teachers deserve to be given the acknowledgement that they are putting themselves in a high-risk environment to provide a critical need to the community.

Some counties are working to vaccinate teachers over 65, but a Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association leader says it should be expanded, as all teachers are at risk.

Superintendent Robert Runcie says there are "some instances" where maintaining six feet may be difficult, but it will happen in "vast majority" of classrooms.

The president of the Florida Education Association says DeSantis "turned his back on educators in Florida."

The Florida Education Association is urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to prioritize teacher vaccinations as more students return to in-person learning in January.