Henrico's Top Teachers - Raelyn Mason, Glen Lea Elementary School, art

The art room is a place where anyone can succeed – that is what Raelyn Mason, the art teacher at Glen Lea Elementary, truly believes and wants to ingrain in her students.

“Anybody can be an artist. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never done clay before, never painted before, anyone can do it,” Mason said. “There’s no way to fail.”

Since graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University, Mason has spent six years teaching art at Glen Lea. Thrown into the education field in the midst of COVID, the once-first-time teacher has become a master at her craft, but getting there took a few rough drafts. 

At first, Mason remembers being slightly intimidated by the idea of leading a classroom and a bit overwhelmed with the number of art supplies filling the room. Glen Lea is a school with high student needs, she said, and behavior can be a challenge in the classroom.

But one rough Monday morning when Mason rushed into the classroom, running late after horrible traffic and stressed out from months of wedding planning, two of her students ran through the door, bursting with excitement to see her.

“It made my whole day. I was like, ‘This is why I do this for you guys,’” she said. “In that moment, I was like, ‘Y’all are going to be my flower girls.”

And just a month later, those two students walked down the aisle at Mason’s wedding as flower girls, a moment that was “so special” to Mason.

But special moments of connection happen every morning in Mason’s classroom, where she holds the “Art Curators” club. The fourth- and fifth-graders wash paintbrushes, organize art supplies, and help make decisions on which artwork should hang in the hallways, but also just sit and chat with Mason about art, their day, or any problems “however big or small.”

“[Mason] builds meaningful connections with students that last throughout their time at school, taking the time to understand their individual interests and encouraging them to pursue their passions with confidence,” wrote one nominator. “She intentionally builds bridges with students who may be struggling to connect with school, offering them a space where they are seen, valued, and supported.”

For students who may not excel in subjects like math or reading, art is a place with no judgments, no rules, and no right or wrong answers. For students who struggle with behavior, the act of making art – molding clay with your hands, painting with watercolors – is a calming mechanism, said Mason. And for students who feel like they don’t fit into the school, the art room is a place to build confidence and self-identity.

“I think art is a really important place for students who maybe struggle in other areas. A place where they feel like they can succeed,” Mason said. “It’s not like in math class, where you have to get the right answer. Everybody's project is going to look different, it's going to be your own, and that's what makes it unique. I like to say, you don't want it to look like everybody else's, you want it to be unique.”

One of Mason’s favorite lessons to teach her students is a simple one: drawing a star. Anyone can learn how to do it, and the feeling of accomplishing something – even something small – gives young students an initial boost that carries them through the class.

“Draw your mountain, cut it in half, go across and go back down – It’s something they can learn in like three minutes and then feel so successful,’ she said. “And with more things than just a star, all the time I see kids gaining confidence in themselves and doing something they didn’t think they could do when they started.”

Mason “embodies the heart of what it means to educate and inspire,” one nominator wrote, and helps make Glen Lea “a more vibrant and inspiring place.”

“She is kind, compassionate, and consistently friendly, creating a safe, welcoming environment where students feel a true sense of belonging,” they wrote. “Her ability to foster both connection and self-expression helps students blossom not only as artists, but as individuals who feel more comfortable, capable, and connected within the school community.”

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.