Henrico’s Top Teachers – Sarah Moss, Tuckahoe ES

Sarah Moss, a first-grade teacher at Tuckahoe Elementary, has a Valentine’s Day card hanging next to her desk that reads, “You are never boring.”

Nearly 14 years later, that still rings true. When schools shifted to virtual learning during the pandemic, Moss decided to make her lessons like a kids’ TV show.

When Mrs. Moss the teacher left the room, Ms. Macaroni would return. Ms. Macaroni always misunderstood the lessons, so the students had to explain them to her.

“It was a way to make sure that they understood what they just learned but in a really wild, silly way,” Moss said. “Bless them… all I did was put on a hat, that was the only difference, but some of them were not 100% convinced it was me because I insisted that she was not Mrs. Moss.”

Occasionally, Moss’ family would make appearances on screen. Her husband was Mr. Mozzarella, her son was Blue Broccolini, one daughter was Girl Gorgonzola, and her other daughter was Lady Linguini.

Teaching virtually “gave me perspective on just being grateful to be in person with my students every day and just making the most of every day that we get together,” Moss said.

As a first-grade teacher, Moss said she loves to help students progress into being full-fledged independent readers. During the last weeks of the school year, her students are now returning to their kindergarten classrooms and reading books to the younger students.

“They get to go back and show the kindergarteners that ‘hey, when you get to first grade, by the end if you put in the time and the work, you'll be able to read a book like this too,’” Moss said.

One of Moss’ favorite parts of teaching is when a student finally “gets it.”

She teaches her students that when they’re learning something new and get a frustrated feeling in their tummy, that means their brains are growing. Instead of being scared or crying because they don't understand something, Moss encourages them to get excited and say “this feeling means my brain is growing like I'm learning something new.”

“I love when a student who may not be particularly successful academically still feels like school is a place for them,” Moss said. “That they still feel like they belong here and this is where they're supposed to be and they're part of our class community.”

In efforts to foster community school-wide, Moss started Tuckahoe Elementary School’s journalism club and its Rubik’s Cube club (though she can't solve one).

But the extracurricular she’s most proud of is sponsoring the Student Council Association, a community service organization.

For years, the SCA has held a fundraiser called “hats on day.” Students bring $1 to school so they can wear a hat for a day, and the SCA donates 100% of the money to Children's Hospital Richmond. Moss and the SCA students make advertising videos to post on social media and show during morning announcements. Last year, the group raised more than $1,000.