Henrico's Top Teachers – Tiniko Johnson, Varina HS

Tiniko Johnson teaches ​​office administration, economics and personal finance to students at Varina High School. Her favorite part of teaching is her students, she said, adding that providing them with the support they need for academic success is her main priority.

“They are the reason for my growth as an educator,” she said. “Interacting with these young adults, watching them grow throughout their transitions in grade level is rewarding”

Her nominators complimented her ability to motivate and encourage her students.

“She is a great role model and pushes, and encourages her students to put their all into their work,” one nominator wrote.

“She interacts with the class effectively throughout the class, but not in a way that’s distracting or irritating,” another wrote. “She tries her hardest to motivate her students and give them opportunities for success. One time stands out to me: she went out of her way to let me know that I am extremely capable of the things she assigns.”

Johnson worked in a wide variety of positions with many different organizations before starting at Varina, she said. Among other jobs, she worked for Verizon Communications at a call center, ran a private hair studio named Elegance and Charisma, and worked in the Career and Technical Education Barbering Program at the ACE Center.

Though she enjoyed teaching at the ACE program, she felt compelled to move onto teaching business classes since that was her major in college, she said.

With determination to continue her teaching career within Henrico County Public Schools, she was hired at Varina High School as a business and marketing teacher.

Two inspiring moments stand out to Johnson when she thinks about her time at Varina: being awarded “First Year Teacher of the Year” and the HCPS “Yay of the Day” recognition, which celebrates extraordinary faculty and staff members in Henrico schools.

“It was very humbling to hear the responses from the students that nominated me. I became so overwhelmed with joy as I read [the nominations],” she said. “It truly warmed my heart and realizing that I am making a difference by impacting my students' lives. For that, I am forever grateful.”

One of the things that makes Johnson a top teacher is the trust and mutual respect that she builds with her students.

“She’s super kind and understanding, and tries to work with the students’ schedules and communicate. She promotes a positive class environment,” one nominator wrote.

Johnson explained the importance of supporting her students both in and out of the classroom.

“When a student knows they can trust you they are more than likely to be productive by improving grades, better attendance, and have positive attitudes,” she said.

Online teaching was challenging, especially since Johnson lacked visual cues to determine if her students were dealing with social and emotional trauma, she said. Despite the hardships brought on by the pandemic, Johnson did everything she could to connect with her students.

“I had to create strategies that were feasible to online learning to keep the students engaged as much as possible and to allow them to express themselves without feeling judged,” she said. “Exposing every effort in making that connection to help build a relationship that hopefully impacted their future in a positive way.”

Nominators spoke to Johnson’s ability to care for her students not only in an academic sense but in an emotional one as well.

“She’s always there. I’m thinking of a time when I was dealing with a loss and she helped me,” one nomator wrote.

“She is a hard worker and she’s good at her job. She makes my day. When I need help, she helps me,” another wrote.

Johnson recently passed the School Leaders Licensure Assessment after attending Virginia State University’s Administration and Leadership Master’s Program courtesy of the Wallace Grant Foundation.

“I am really looking forward to what is yet to come!,” she said, enthusiastically.