AUGUSTA, Ga – In the lively halls of Bayvale Elementary, LaToya Sams and her third-grade students are diving into math with enthusiasm and joy. Sams has managed to spark a love for numbers in her classroom by taking a personal approach to teaching.

“My first goal is to build relationships with each student,” Sams explains. “Once that foundation is laid, students become more engaged and eager to participate. It’s one of the key strategies I use to make math and learning enjoyable and engaging for everyone.”

Before stepping into the world of teaching, Sams was already well-acquainted with numbers. “I used to work as a bank teller for a few years,” she recalls. “It was my first experience dealing extensively with math.”

At Bayvale Elementary, Sams is part of a dedicated and dynamic team, all working together to inspire their students and cultivate a positive learning environment.

She’s part of such a strong team here at Bayvale Elementary.

“Everyone in the district knows that Bayvale is the place to be, because we all treat each other lovely. And it’s almost like we’re a family away from home.”

LaToya Sams. A teacher who is so good at her job because she got such a solid foundation in her own home.

“It does stem from me growing up in the household with my parents, and also being raised by my grandmother,” she says. “Just finding the balance. The structure was always there telling me what I needed to do, the importance of school, and just making sure you’re taking school serious, so you can be better prepared for life.”