Elementary teacher drove by her students’ houses during the shutdown to deliver a sweet message

During these times of social distancing, necessary so we can limit the spread of the new coronavirus, people are finding new ways to keep in touch. But for one teacher — Brandy Hurtado from W.O. Gray Elementary School in Balch Springs, Texas — emails and video messages haven’t been enough. In fact, she’s been missing her students so much that she went out in her car to deliver a very special message: “I miss you!”

The school shared photos of Hurtado’s trip on its Facebook page with the caption, “Mrs. Hurtado conducted drive by visits to let her students know how much she misses their smiling faces.”

On March 15, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told school superintendents and lawmakers to prepare themselves for long-term school district closures, potentially through the end of the school year, especially in areas where the new coronavirus had spread, reported KCBD.

Which means W.O. Gray Elementary School students wouldn’t see Mrs. Hurtado for months!

In photos the elementary school posted to Facebook, it’s obvious from her students’ faces just how much her drive-by visit meant to them.

Parents and caregivers have flooded the post with messages of gratitude.

“Look at my grand baby,” wrote one. “She looks happy to get a visit from her teacher! Thanks W.O. Gray Elementary School (Ms. H) for showing what a teacher’s heart looks like.”

Another wrote, “That is the sweetest thing ever!!!”

Other teachers left comments, shedding some light on why it was important for Mrs. Hurtado to do this.

“Teachers don’t get the pay we deserve, but look at those precious students’ smiles and the love on the teacher’s face! Our pay is not monetary but we get paid more richly than money!” wrote one.

As COVID-19 continues to change the landscape of our day to day lives, every new day seems like a bad news day.

But those like Mrs. Hurtado prove that a global pandemic can bring out the best in people.