Henrico's Top Teachers – Kiara Samuels, Colonial Trail Elementary School, first grade

First grade teacher Kiara Samuels makes it a goal to show up for every single one of her students outside of school, whether it is at a birthday party, a soccer game, a piano recital, a baptism, or a family dinner. Samuels even comes to students’ houses to read them bedtime stories.

“At the beginning of the year, I tell all of my parents at open house, if your kid has any games, any family events – invite me. I will come,” Samuels said. “I try to visit at least every kid once outside of school just so they can see, I’m not just your teacher, but I’m somebody who cares about you outside of school.”

One student who Samuels taught three years ago still invites her to every single birthday party. And every time, Samuels shows up – and will continue to for every birthday party “ever,” she said.

A sixth-year teacher at Colonial Trail Elementary School, Samuels always goes the extra mile for her students, even – and most especially – when she doesn’t have to. Although school ends at 3 p.m., Samuels stays until 6 p.m. almost every day, usually thinking of new ways to teach a lesson or different strategies to help a struggling student.

“I’m always like, okay, what can I do to really, really, really help this student? Or what can I do to make this activity more engaging next time?” she said. “I’m literally just always thinking. Like, what else can I do? How else can I be better?”

Samuels often has several newcomer students – English learners who have just arrived in the country – join her classroom midyear. And during the weeks before they arrive, she studies up on the student’s native language to learn some common phrases to welcome them. Then, she teaches the phrases to the other students in the class.

“That way, my students are excited and feel like they can communicate with the other student, and to also help that student feel welcome,” Samuels said. “Even if it’s only, ‘Hi, how are you?’ I feel like that makes a big difference.”

With such a diverse group of students from many different countries speaking many different languages, Samuels also tries to incorporate their interests and cultures into her class lessons. Many students from South America love soccer, while several from India love cricket, so Samuels likes to weave the two sports into math problems or include an article on them for students to read about. 

“We are a big family in here, and so we’re always learning about each other,” she said. “The kids will try to even learn each other’s languages sometimes. Like, ‘how do you say this? How do you say that?’ So I think they kind of see it as a cool thing. It’s not like, ‘oh, you’re different.’ It’s like, ‘hey, you know this other language.’”

Samuels does the same for her students who are more shy or withdrawn. It usually doesn’t take much to encourage other students to befriend a shy kid or include them in an activity. After a while, Samuels started noticing students come up and volunteer to seek out more timid students.

“They kind of pick up from how I act with a student, and they will come to me and go, ‘oh, do you need somebody to come play with her?’” she said. “Even finding one or two students who do a good job of welcoming kids in, and kind of using them to help build the classroom community. And then they can take ownership that they helped this kid feel comfortable in school.”

One day, a student told Samuels that he didn’t have any friends. She instantly turned to the rest of the class and said, “Hey, raise your hand if you’re so-and-so’s friend.” Suddenly a bunch of hands shot up, and the student was so happily surprised that he held his face and grinned.

It’s moments like these that are the most heart melting, Samuels said. Most kids are ready to be there for one another, some just need some extra love and encouragement. 

Other moments show just how far a kid can progress. Last year, Samuels had a new student from India who, at first, did not speak at all. He had only recently learned to talk in his native language, still did not speak any English, and only wrote in scribble-scrabble. But by the end of the year, he was able to write several sentences in English.

“It was just amazing to see him go from not speaking at all to speaking and writing,” Samuels said. “And he could read all of his writing. It was just one of my favorite moments.”

Samuels often is a friendly face in the Colonial Trail hallways, waving hello to even students she doesn’t know. But what she is best known for in the building is her wild, elaborate costumes that she pulls out whenever she has the occasion.

Over the years, Samuels has dressed as an elf, a neon tutu-ed skater barbie, a christmas tree with gift box shoes, Cruella de Vil, and – her most famous look – a big, blow-up gingerbread man. 

“I love a good excuse to dress up and be weird and make somebody laugh or spark joy,” she said. “I will put on a whole circus. I don’t mind looking crazy in order to make somebody else happier or smile. There are some kindergartners that to this day, I don’t even know their name, and they’ll come up to me and be like, ‘remember when you wore that gingerbread costume?!’”

Along with getting to know her students on a deeper level, Samuels also forms strong relationships with their parents. She continues to check up on the families she used to teach, one parent wrote, and still is a memorable and caring figure to her former students.

“Ms. Samuels is one of the most loving and kind teachers out there. She takes Spirit Week to an entirely new level and everyone in the school continues to be in awe of her phenomenal costume choice,” the parent wrote. “She taught my own child in first grade and was able to really support him during his most challenging moments. He visits her classroom often, and she has continued to check in on him years later.”