President Biden wants to reopen schools across the country within his first 100 days in office and has already signed executive actions to free up funding and increase personal protective equipment and testing for school districts.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to release new guidelines about how schools can reopen safely. And on Wednesday, Chicago's teachers' union agreed to restart in-person classes in a deal that includes COVID-19 vaccine priority to teachers and staff who are returning to school buildings.

Across the country, teachers are beginning to face the reality of returning to their classrooms in person and all that comes with it — whether it's excitement over seeing students again, anxiety over whether classrooms will be safe from the virus or the challenges that come with teaching in a radically new environment.

"God, it was good to see the kids," Hollingsworth, 48, says. "But it's not the same, because I'm constantly telling pre-K, [kindergarten] and first grade and second grade, you know, pull up your mask, sweet pea."

Maxie Hollingsworth just returned to in-person teaching at her elementary school in Houston, where she has been working remotely since last spring.