WTOC Top Teacher: Valerie Carr

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - She wants her students to know that learning is fun, and she hopes that will be the spark for their future success.

Valerie Carr is going over the latest book her class is reading.

“My goal is for them to be inspired,” said Carr. “Being able to understand what they are reading. And understand what they see around them. So they could bring it to life for themselves.”

Carr teaches 5th grade at Heard Elementary School in Savannah.

“This type of grade level is awesome,” said Carr. “They are very independent. They can give you out of the box thinking. So I highly enjoy this grade level and this age group.”

She knows her job is getting these children ready for middle school. She likes to build a safe space for students.

“If you make a mistake its not the end of the world, its not a big deal. Keep on going, I say don’t worry about it, keep on going,” said Carr.

And she says building a relationship with her students is another way to help them thrive.

“I build relationships with them,” said Carr. “During recess I will go out and talk with them, be that support for them in the school building, and if they need to before school and after school for tutorial and things like that. building that relationship with them gets them to be who they need to be.”