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HOME — A Salt Lake City native is taking virtual learning to new heights by "hiring" dozens of substitute teachers.
Dan Stromberg is a pilot for United Airlines, and he hasn’t worked much since mid-March because of the new coronavirus pandemic, giving him plenty of free time to spend with his wife and two kids in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
His wife, Orem native Laura Stromberg, has been taking the lead on distance learning for their two kids, 13-year-old Sam and 6-year-old Stella. It’s a needed task to keep their kids on track, but the couple admits that "social isolation can get tough and at times monotonous."
That when they began to create a bit of magical escape for their family.
"One day (Laura) needed my help, and I thought it would be hilarious if I dressed up and called myself Stella's substitute teacher," Dan said in an email. "Stella loved the silliness and had a great time, and I was happy to bring some enjoyment to her routine."
In other words, it was a hit.
"I was not surprised at all to see Dan coming up with the idea to do this for his little girl. Dan loves to get a laugh and if he can do that for his kids he will," Laura said.
From that day on, the couple decided that Stella would get a "substitute teacher" regularly to help beat back any boredom or monotony that might creep in for the family during social isolation.
At first, the goal was to be silly and get a laugh, but soon the couple decided to regularly create costumes and themes that Stella would relate to, and each family member has a different favorite.
- The substitutes aren’t Sam’s thing, but he "did love participating as the Prince of Quarantina because he knew it would mean a lot to his sister."
- Stella’s favorite so far was Kenickie Murdoch from "Grease," "mostly because she was excited to get a Pink Lady jacket."
- Laura feels attached to King Fergus from Pixar’s "Brave" because she got to make the yarn beard and sock tassels of the Scottish king.
- Dan "absolutely loved" playing the mild demeanor of Bob Ross for an art lesson in painting, which is an activity Stella particularly enjoys.
- Even though the Strombergs, like many others, find the current reality to be difficult and frightening and frightening at times, they feel grateful for how close their family has become. But they are also helping others find a little escape and happiness via Laura’s Instagram and Facebook posts.
"A typical comment is how these have become the best part of someone's day, or how they watch the videos as a family together and that it brightens their day," Laura said. "We've started getting requests to do a whole host of different characters, which we may or may not oblige."
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