Within the community, many teachers work toward enhancing relationships with their students by becoming involved and showing interest in their students’ lives. Students at Chantilly are able to create deep bonds with their teachers because many teachers strive to benefit students not only academically, but emotionally as well. Teachers often seek ways to connect with students outside the boundaries of teaching and classroom instruction.  
“I am very concerned about my students’ emotional well-being, partly because of what I see in the classroom and partly because I have two children of my own that I worry about as well,”  social studies teacher Angie Rollet said.

Some teachers spend their own time and money making their classroom a more welcoming environment by buying snacks and setting up comfortable workspaces for their students.

Teachers who pay for food or classroom decorations with their own money hope to create a pleasant atmosphere.     

“I started my teaching career in California where some students didn’t have a lot. I know that realistically I have students that are hungry and maybe can’t afford food so I got into the habit of bringing food for the kids,” English teacher Deb Wydra said. “I also think that everyone just relaxes a little bit more when they have some food.”

Several teachers try to create connections with students instead of seeming distant. Teachers like Wydra attempt this by buying food or small gifts for their students. Something as small as a teacher giving out snacks or remembering birthdays can have a significant impact on a student’s life.

“Mrs. Wydra is definitely emotionally involved with us and she really cares about us,” junior Josh Bowers said. “We are almost like her kids and it’s really helpful to have someone like that teaching us.”

Sometimes teachers try to award their students with small celebrations to relieve some of the stress they endure in school. Since school and extracurricular activities can be strenuous and demanding for a student, some teachers search for ways to subdue their tension.  

“2 years ago I started putting students birthdays on the class calendar to recognize them so we remember that we are all people in a classroom,” Rollet said. “We often [lose] focus in class and get caught up in the academics so that’s why I like to have little celebrations.”

Students oftentimes form bonds with their teachers over the course of the year because of everything they do for them. Creating a beneficial connection between a teacher and a student can oftentimes enhance that student’s life.     

“I feel a little closer to the teachers that remember things about my life or give us little treats  because it’s something special they do for us,” sophomore Patrick Mountcastle said.
Teachers are expected to educate their pupils, but they often do much more than that. Getting to know students personally and showing interest in their lives can greatly assist a positive teacher-student relationship.
“The only way I can take care of a student’s emotional well being is to build a relationship with those students and sometimes what a student is going to remember the most has nothing to do with academics,” Rollet said. “But has everything to do with a connection between a student and a teacher.”

Though it is often overlooked, teachers try their best to supply students with the emotional and academic support they need whether that is buying food for classes or just simply remembering certain things about their lives.