Katie Samuels

There was much anticipation and nerves for all of us as Mia embarked on her first big milestone, starting kindergarten. Mia was excited and yet very honest with us about what she was concerned or worried about such as making new friends, or will she have any friends in her class, what will her teacher be like. All normal feelings. Of course as the mom, I reassured her and affirmed her feelings were okay...and yes I too was wondering what will her teacher be like...what if Mia needs an extra hug or is having a say when she is more sensitive - will her teacher be there to help or are there too many kids and other things that these items are missed. I prayed. I knew we had a special teacher when the day before school started we went to meet Mrs Samuels and see the lunch room and her class room and place some items in Mia’s cubby. We went home with a folder. A lot of goodies from Mrs Samuels to help teach Mia throughout the year but that’s not what I loved most. It was a personalized letter all about her, how she teaches, her husband, her dog Harmon and her life. She also gave these little packets of glitter jitters with a cute poem to have Mia put under her pillow that night. And that was not all, you could scan a code the night before kindergarten to hear a story about the night before kindergarten being read by Mrs Samuels herself. I knew we were blessed with someone special. From there, we received a personalized Mia at the end of Mia’s first day of school. ❤️ Then email updating me if Mia was a little sensitive or emotional coming into class because she missed her mommy or didn’t want me to leave and Mrs.Samuels calmed her and comforted her ending with Mia having a good day. Anything out of the ordinary for our precious daughter had been so proactively communicated and it’s felt like a true partner that cares about my daughter deeply. This morning we icing on the cake. Mia’s little bother had been sick all week and come Thursday morning it’s time for me to drop Mia off at school. I walked Mia in at 8:06 and stayed in the vestibule with her until 8:12 trying to console her and love her and catch her tears. I had to get going to work but was torn and could not leave her alone crying. I emailed Mrs. Samuels at 8:12...saying tough drop off...lots of tears and I’m in the vestibule with her. At 8:14 Mrs. Samuels wrote back “I will be out”. At that same time Mia decided to walk in after one more hug and wiping away tears. Mrs. Samuels emailed me to let me know she sat with Mia while she has breakfast and was with her to help her and to be honest me in a time of need. Mrs. Samuels is hands down the best teacher. I’m grateful Mia started her school years with such a phenomenal teacher. The bar is set so high! In gratitude, Mia’s mom Trisha

Mia Farrow