A year ago, I wrote about the unknowns facing students, their families and educators as we lived through the limbo of a “soft closure.” At the time, educators across the country hoped for a return to “normal” within just a couple of weeks.

I was naively hopeful that I would gather again with my class at school by the end of the year. In reality, I saw them once more in person during a tightly scheduled day in late May for a one-on-one, outdoor, masked meeting in which we quickly exchanged their district-issued computer for a farewell gift from me. It was stressful, awkward and memorable for reasons no teacher wants to relive.

As the education community wraps up this wild ride of a year and looks forward to the next, I find myself reflecting on what I hope can be our guiding principle: collective grace extended to educators, administrators, parents and students.

Educators, give yourself space to recognize your data may not show the growth you wanted to see in your students. Like it or not, end of year testing is quickly approaching and it isn’t going to be pretty. Teachers, myself included, will undoubtedly cry over the data and even question their decision to become an educator. In those moments, I hope that we can offer ourselves grace in finding the bright spots. Helping a student feel loved, safe, and respected during a pandemic will have a more lasting impact than the scores we may see.

Administrators, now more than ever, very few people envy your position. The decisions on your shoulders, the inability to please anyone, and the support you offered your education communities have been immense. This is not a year to dwell on scores or rankings or disparaging comments on social media. This is the year to learn from what worked and what did not, and give yourself the grace to continue into the next year, albeit slightly scathed.

Parents, I have cried with you over Zoom both in frustration over technical difficulties and in celebration over student growth. This year more than ever, your role became critical in your students’ successes. You juggled work, illness, unreliable internet, cabin fever, and your new role as unofficial teacher’s assistant. We have heard you lose your temper with your student from off-screen when you did not know they were unmuted, and we understand. Give yourself the grace to get angry and frustrated despite all of your love for your children.

And most importantly, students, give yourselves a standing ovation for your work this year. During conferences last month, I reminded my students that they have accomplished what has never been done in our lifetimes. They pivoted back and forth between in-person and online learning, donned masks, watched loved ones fall ill, took care of family members and managed to learn their times tables through it all. I am in awe of students everywhere for their resilience, and I hope they give themselves the grace they deserve.

Yes, grades matter. But students have learned so much beyond the books this year and deserve the space to recognize all they have accomplished just by living through this experience.

As final report cards and test scores come in, I hope that all stakeholders remember to take this year for what it was: learning the lessons of survival, and offering grace to ourselves and each other.

Rachel Wright has been teaching elementary school since 2014. She is a Utah Teacher Fellow with the Hope Street Group, working to elevate the voice of educators and work with policymakers to enhance education for Utah’s students. Opinions are her own. Follow her on Twitter at @UtahRach.