At Valley View Elementary, Eliza Fultz begins each school year with an open heart and a room full of young learners, each bringing their own spark—and their own story. She’s been teaching first grade for six years now, two of them at Valley View; and her heart is already woven into the fabric of the school—as well as the lives of her students. In just that short time, she’s learned something she’ll carry with her for the remainder of her career: the students who challenge you the most often change you the most. 

“To be able to just not have to worry about it, to know, if I run out of X material, it will be replenished. That is one less thing that I need to be worried about,” she says. “Having that basic need met is empowering me to be focused on more exciting and more valuable things with my time.”

There was one student—spirited, a little wild; the kind who keeps you on your toes. “Notoriously a little bit of a challenging kid,” she laughs. “But often times those are the ones you can build the strongest connections with.” Throughout her time with him, she nurtured and fostered their relationship, continuing to push him to exceed even his own expectations. Even though their year together had come to a close, the connection didn’t fade. 

The student crossed her mind frequently over the summer break, wondering how he was doing, hoping he was still growing; and upon returning to school the following fall, it was clear he’d been thinking of her too. 

One day, Eliza was standing in the hallway when he caught sight of her—and before she could blink, he sprinted down the hall and leapt into her arms. The biggest bear hug. “I missed you!” he beamed. Those 3 words swelled in her heart, sharing with him that she’d missed him too. 

What happened next was something Eliza will never forget. Mrs. Fultz happened to be in the library when she overheard a familiar voice reading aloud for an assessment. She paused, listening closely. This same student—who even after months of determination and perseverance, had left for summer vacation just below grade level—was now fluently reading the passage. Word after word, his voice was steady and confident. She beamed, radiant with pride; for BOTH of their hard work. A beautiful and empowering moment of seeing her work take seed within this young learner, and reaping the fruits of her labor seeing him become an assured reader. 

It was one of those moments– a rare, golden moment– in the life of an educator where time slows and you’re reminded exactly why you do this work. 

“I waited for him to finish,” she recalls.”And I was like ‘That was AMAZING! Like you’re a reader, that’s incredible!’ And he’s like ‘Yeah I practiced over the summer!’” 

Moments like this are what keep teachers going, even on the toughest days. And yet, Eliza knows that these powerful moments aren’t magic. That these victories start with meeting the basics—food, rest, emotional safety… and yes, even school supplies. “If a kid’s coming to school without sleep or without food, there’s no way they’re going to be able [to thrive]. I think the same is true for teachers. And in terms of education, a really basic need is school supplies.”

“If a kid’s coming to school without sleep or without food, there’s no way they’re going to be able [to thrive]. I think the same is true for teachers. And in terms of education, a really basic need is school supplies.”

Having access to resources like Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Resource Center, means Eliza doesn’t have to worry about running out of pencils, folders, or glue sticks. That freedom means she can focus on the magic—the real, hard-working, life-shaping magic—of teaching.

“To be able to just not have to worry about it, to know, if I run out of X material, it will be replenished. That is one less thing that I need to be worried about,” she says. “Having that basic need met is empowering me to be focused on more exciting and more valuable things with my time.”

And if you ever wonder what those things might look like, picture a student sprinting down the hallway, launching into a hug, both arms wrapping tightly around the teacher who helped him believe he could be a reader.

That’s the most valuable thing there is.

Read more stories about Teachers like Eliza

At Kids in Need Foundation, we believe every student should have equal access to the opportunities and resources necessary for a quality education. Our mission is to create equitable learning spaces by providing essential supplies and support to under-resourced students and teachers across the country. As the only national nonprofit dedicated to serving schools where 70% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-cost meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), we are committed to ensuring every student has the supplies they need to learn with confidence and reach their full potential.

Written by: Emily Pineda