Henrico's Top Teachers – Meghan Gouldin, Ward Elementary School, physical education

Since 2009, Meghan Gouldin has been “the heartbeat” of Ward Elementary School in Varina, teaching much more than just her physical education classes, according to a coworker who nominated her for recognition.

“She doesn't just teach fitness,” the person wrote, “she teaches belonging.”

Gouldin realized at an early age, in part through nannying and working at summer camps, that she loved working with children. While a student at JMU, she realized that physical education could be her calling because of how it differs from classroom learning.

“I wanted to make meaningful connections, foster inclusion for everyone – whether you are at top of class or just looking for a place where you belong,” she said.

Gouldin’s PE classes have been helping Ward students do just that for 17 years now, giving them (in her words) “a place where they can move, they can step out of their shell. They realize that success is possible – and they recognize that success.”

But Gouldin goes far beyond her teaching responsibilities to show her support and love for students, according to her coworker.

“She is also a pioneer of school culture,” the person wrote. “By founding morning clubs, she created a space for students to explore passions and hobbies before the first bell even rings, ensuring that school is a place of excitement rather than just obligation.

“She is an ‘attendance buddy’ for at-risk students and acts as a bridge between the PTA, staff, and families. Her dedication is visible: she is the teacher you see at Saturday morning lemonade stands, local sports games, and student birthday parties.

Taking time to attend her students’ activities outside of school is a key way to demonstrate her investment in their success, Gouldin said, while also helping to develop connections with families. She’s seen the way the faces of her own two children light up when their teachers attend their events, and she takes pride in being able to do the same for her students, whose reaction often is, “Oh, you do care,” she said.

As one of the longest-tenured employees at the school, and one who gets to work with students in every grade, Gouldin quickly becomes a familiar face to each one. Because teachers sometimes shift to other schools or leave the profession entirely, students often ask what her plans are.

“It hurts my heart so much when I get that question at the end of the year: ‘Are you going to be here next year?]” she said. But she’s too devoted to the Ward community and her students to imagine herself anywhere else.

“I feel like it’s hard to leave once you’ve invested yourself in it,” she said.

Two years ago, Gouldin started early morning clubs, which students can attend before the first bell rings, as a way to help them find other passions beyond the classroom. They can practice the Rubik’s Cube, art, bucket drumming, dance and other activities in the sessions. The idea: “to create that environment where kids want to be there every day,” she said.

She’s also renowned at the school for her winter wonderland centers, which feature creative stations like “indoor ice skating” and reindeer games, as well as specialized sessions for functional integrated services students with disabilities, so that they too can enjoy the experiences.

“Meghan Gouldin is more than an educator,” her nominator wrote, “she is a ‘band-aid’ for our community, healing gaps in student support and bringing people together. Her positive impact on the children of Ward Elementary isn't just measured in physical health, but in the confidence and joy she instills in every student she meets. For Meghan, the students are the only motivation behind her hard work, making her the quintessential ‘Top Teacher.’

To Gouldin, all of her efforts are just logical extensions of work she feels blessed to do.

“I love doing what I’m doing,” she said. “This is the life.”