Henrico's Top Teachers – Kent Dohrman, Pinchbeck ES

When Kent Dohrman started college, he majored in communications and had thoughts of becoming a broadcast journalist.

But after working as a YMCA camp counselor over his summer breaks, Dohrman's career goals took a turn.

"I realized," he recalls, "that [working with children] was what I wanted to do with my future."

Count a few hundred third-graders – past and present – among the lucky beneficiaries of his change of plans.

At least one former student who is well past third grade "still talks about how lucky she was to get him" for a teacher, according to her mother.

Dohrman's students like that he makes learning fun, and even lets them whisper during class time. They delight in his rewards system, which allows them to earn coins for things like helping classmates, setting a good example, or being a leader in the classroom. Kids who once found school boring are now enjoying themselves in his class.

And it isn't just the third-graders who sing Dohrman's praises; their parents join in the chorus.

As one dad likes to say, "Mr. Dohrman is working his magic."

A mom said that her son used to struggle with writing, but thanks to Dohrman's encouragement he is now applying himself eagerly to writing projects -- and enjoying them.

"My son has not complained to me about writing once this year, which is incredible," she said.

She also noted that when Dohrman's father was hospitalized and he was out of school for a few days, her son had trouble adjusting to the substitute. Dohrman went out of his way to personally call her son, ask how he was doing, express confidence in his abilities, and reassure him he'd be back soon.

"Having a call from the teacher he missed made my son feel so much better," said the mom. "He was grinning from ear to ear after getting off the phone."

Over the years, Dohrman says, he has come to realize that it's often these outside-the-classroom gestures that students seem to appreciate – and remember – the most.

He recalls a couple of former students (now in their 20's) who reached out to him a few years back. One of them told Dohrman how much he cherished the memory of the teacher coming to his basketball game one weekend. The other former student told him that a favorite memory was of Dohrman delivering cards to her house, made by her classmates, after her grandfather passed away.

"These two moments resonated with me," Dohrman says. "It showed me how much little things you do outside of your actual job requirements can have an impact on the children you teach."