ST PAUL, Minn. — "I am a teacher and I am scared. Will you talk to me for two minutes?"
Those were the words shouted during a press conference Thursday from Ellen Gurrola, a middle school teacher in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.
Governor Walz pulled away from the briefing momentarily to speak with Gurrola, who was understandably emotional about what's happening with the upcoming school year.
"Who's going to watch him?" Gurrola said crying, pointing to her young son. "I'm scared."
Gurrola told the governor that her husband is a firefighter and they worry about childcare. She also talked about some of her coworkers who are at high risk for contracting coronavirus, but won't turn down a teaching job because they need the money.
Gurrola explained that she's frustrated with how district decisions are being made and that teachers are the last ones to find out.
"Teachers in the classroom, we haven't been asked, but some have," she said. "We're not included."
After their chat, Gov. Walz took down Gurrola's information. During his press conference, he said that this school year is going to be hard and unlike any first day of school we've ever seen.