Henrico's Top Teachers – Noran Knight

Noran Knight measures success in inches rather than yards.

But for the federal preschool program students she has taught at four Henrico elementary schools during the past 16 years, she has provided a springboard for rapid future success.

"I have a real passion for this age group," said Knight, who has taught students at Baker Elementary in Varina for the past six years, following time at Ratcliffe, Adams and Ashe elementaries. "They're fun, they surprise me daily with the things they do and say. I have no children of my own, so they've been my babies the past 16 years."

Most of her students face challenges, which landed them in the program to begin with. Whether they are from low-income or single-parent households or simply have not experienced the same type of learning opportunities as other preschool-aged children, it's Knight's job to prepare them for kindergarten – but more importantly, help them become excited about school.

The adoptive parents of one of her recent students recalled how she demonstrated an unwavering desire to help him overcome the deaths of both his natural parents before he turned three.

"Ms. Knight went above and beyond to do everything she could while we were working on an IEP [Individualized education program] for him," one of the parents wrote in a nomination. "She did her own early interventions and helped him make huge progress. He would not be doing as well today without her. She never gave up on him, she challenged him and loved him.

"She has become an important figure in his life to this day. Henrico is so lucky to have her."

Knight, in return, feels lucky to have her students. She is a product of the county's school system herself (Montrose Elementary, Rolfe Middle and Varina High), so she's in familiar territory each day.

Those little successes – helping a student learn to stand still and listen, or teaching another how to use scissors – add up throughout the year.

"I have quite a few children who started out not knowing how to write their names, not knowing a single letter. . . crying every single day because they wanted to be at home with Mommy, "she said. "Now they can write on their own; they recognize more than half their letters."

Knight recognizes the important influence she can have on young lives. A positive preschool experience can send children to kindergarten happy and ready to enjoy school, and that attitude can help them rise above the difficulties in their lives.

"Sometimes I do feel the pressure," Knight said. "I really try my best to make sure they are learning and enjoying their experience in school."

She's a regular at her students' basketball and t-ball games, "just so they know that I care enough to see them," she said.

Next year, she'll get to see firsthand how some of her students are transitioning to kindergarten, when she teaches kindergarten at Baker for the first time.

"I know that this is a job I'm going to retire from," Knight said.