Henrico's Top Teachers – Cari Malakoff, Tuckahoe Elementary School, counseling

Tuckahoe Elementary School counselor Cari Malakoff always had a niche for supporting younger kids.

As young as a teen, Malakoff was a returning camp counselor, working with elementary-age campers.

“I really loved working with different kids and ages,” Malakoff said. “I particularly always loved working with the kids that struggled a bit or needed extra attention or more support.”

And her elementary school teacher, who later became one of her professors at Virginia Commonwealth University, always inspired Malakoff with her warm presence in the school building.

“Being that person that kids could go to is always really important to me,” Malakoff said. “Having a student feel seen and heard is crucial.”

As a school counselor, Malakoff leads small groups like Worry Warriors and Girl Power that focus on confidence building and providing tools to tackle anxiety.

One nominator described the influence of her creative programs that support students.

“Her empathy for our student, and students like him, feels limitless,” the nominator said. “She is constantly seeking out new and creative ways to help her students, communicate with parents, and coordinate within the school system.”

Malakoff also teaches techniques in classroom mindfulness lessons to support students during state testing, a time when nerves run wild, Malakoff said.

A day after state testing, one third-grade teacher told Malakoff that her students practiced the techniques in the classroom to calm anxiety.

“To know they took what I spoke about with them and used it, it was awesome,” Malakoff said. “It made my whole week.”

And as a counselor for younger students, the hardest part is going home after the school day, she said.

“You do as much as you can, but you still worry,” Malakoff said. “It’s hard to turn it off.”

But all of those sleepless nights and spiraling thoughts are forgotten when she sees the growth and success of her students.

A few years ago, Malakoff supported a student who wanted to learn gymnastics. The student struggled with anxiety and the family was primarily Spanish-speaking. Malakoff provided the student with calming tools and worked with the family to receive funding so the student could get in the gym.

And this isn’t the only student she’s touched, one nominator said.

“Her kindness, support and relentless optimism for our student, and our whole family, have been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging year.”

Malakoff hopes to have the same impact as her dad, a former high school teacher at Tucker High who’s still in touch with his students from more than 30 years ago.

“One of the most important things for me, and has always been, is being visible to my students,” Malakoff said. “And being able to best support those kids and know that they’re not alone. I don’t want them to ever feel like they’re alone.”