Teacher of the Month: Samantha Lincoln

HANCOCK, Mass. — Every year, Hancock Elementary School first- and second-grade teacher Samantha Lincoln puts her students' imaginations to work, using play and creativity to bring lessons to life. 

It is this fun atmosphere and kind nature that students described that has earned her the iBerkshires Teacher of the Month designation. 

 

The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, features distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.

 

During their time at Hancock Elementary School, Lincoln's classroom is one of the stops along students' educational journey, where she strives to recognize their strengths, work toward their goals and help shape them into the best versions of themselves.

 

"Hancock School is my home," she said, highlighting the joy she feels seeing her students' excitement when seeing her, whether it's when entering the classroom in the morning or outside in the community. 

 

Each year, students complete an ethics and manners unit that ends with a family tea party that the students prepare for, from creating the menus to preparing the food and serving their guests.

 

Lincoln also co-directs the school's annual spring musical, giving her another opportunity to watch students grow, build confidence and showcase different sides of themselves.

 

"Learning through play is my biggest thing. Kids can learn anything if they learn through play," she said, from singing, dancing, and so much more.

 

One activity students specifically highlighted as a favorite was "Towns," where they built businesses out of cardboard boxes and ran them, selling merchandise or offering services ranging from car repairs to spa days. 

 

On occasion, other grades will come through the classroom to make purchases at the make-shift shops. 

 

"Towns is actually student-created…and it's grown so much. Now I incorporate money, I incorporate addition, I incorporate so many standards in this one student-led project, and it's just-it's fantastic," Lincoln said. 

 

"It helps them with their math skills. It helps them with their socialization skills. It's really life skills. I mean, some of them could be business owners someday, and they will get so much out of that."

 

Students are learning beyond the standard curriculum, developing social-emotional skills, and growing every day, Lincoln said. 

 

"She has a tremendous impact on her students. She is so positive, uplifting, and also has high expectations for everybody. It really helps to change the dynamics of the school," Hancock Elementary School Principal John Merselis III said. 

 

"I think that when teachers model the behavior that they want their students to exhibit, everybody benefits…when people think back on a favorite elementary early childhood teacher, I think many people remember the lessons and the activities that Sam brought to the classroom." 

 

Kids learn so much more when they are having fun, and creating that kind of environment makes students want to come to school, Lincoln said.

 

"Every child deserves an education, and taking each child and really seeing their individual self is so important because they have so much to offer, not just academically," she said. 

 

"So, if we can really take them and kind of have their strengths, really know them, and then make some goals for them, we can just shape them into the best the best version of themselves that they can be."

 

Lincoln's dedication extends beyond the classroom, and the lasting impact she has on her students and their families is evident in those who continue to visit her long after they have moved on to a new school.

 

During Lincoln's first year at Morningside Community School, she formed a close connection with a Spanish-speaking family after their daughter, Emily Pabon Ortiz, was placed in her class.

 

It is the relationship she built with the Ortiz family that Lincoln attributes to being one of the most impactful experiences of her career.

 

"It was my first year, and I just wanted to help. So, I helped. I helped in every way possible, and now we're family, which is amazing," Lincoln said.

 

They didn't speak English but dedicated themselves to being involved in Ortiz's education, she said. 

 

Ortiz's mom wanted the best for her children, but struggled to navigate her new community and school system.

 

"We had just moved to the United States. It was a very difficult time. I didn't speak the language, so it was very difficult at first," Ortiz said. 

 

When Ortiz entered her class, Lincoln created opportunities for her to participate and worked to bridge the language barrier by incorporating Spanish into lessons, having Ortiz teach her classmates everything from colors and numbers to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."

 

Lincoln's efforts stretched beyond the classroom as she slowly started to build a relationship with the family, introducing them to the community and culture, and helping their daughter connect with other children.

 

"Since I had just moved here, I didn't really know anyone, and there was not a lot of people, a lot of families that I knew that spoke Spanish. So she helped build a community for me that accepted me, and I think that was one of the greatest gifts she has given me," Ortiz said. 

 

Today, the family is thriving, being very fluent in English, Lincoln said, and the relationship they built is still there even as Ortiz has moved on to attend Charles H McCann High School. 

 

"I think it's important to have a teacher like Miss Lincoln because I feel that teachers should care about their students, not just how they're doing academically, but also shaping them into better people and caring about them," Ortiz said. 

 

"I feel like once you get to know your students, you can really learn about somebody, and you can just learn so much from caring about people. And I think it's very important just to get to know people and get to know your students."