By Cindy Adams

She's not on a community advisory board, and she's not necessarily a civic leader, but Hailey Massie is growing a community all the same. Her community is Bristol. It’s the place where she was born, grew up, and now teaches at the local Minnick school. The classroom is where she knows she can make the greatest difference because it all starts with the children.

Becoming a teacher wasn't Hailey's dream. She had never spent a single day teaching in public schools when her best friend convinced her to apply for a teacher's aide position at Minnick. She decided to try it, and she fell in love at once.

Her mom, a former teacher herself, wasn't thrilled at first. She knew the pay was modest and the challenges were real. Hailey even left Minnick briefly for a higher salary, but she was back before the year ended. She couldn't stay away from what she loved, which was the children, the creativity, the staff, and the chance to shape her community from the ground up.

Now she's working on her Special Education license at UVA Wise, teaching K-2 at Minnick, and her mom has come around completely. She couldn't help but see how much Hailey loves what she does.

"School was amazing for me, and I want these kids to have a great experience, too," Hailey says. "I want them to feel loved and supported so they can just be happy kids."

For Hailey, these childhood experiences create healthy children who grow into productive adults. Nothing gives her greater joy than contributing to her community this way.

"There aren't many jobs where you get this much fulfillment," she says. "Seeing a student change from someone who doesn't want to come to school or do their work to one who looks forward to being here and is happy to participate is just an amazing moment."

Part of the reason she sees this transformation is that she has a natural way of making every child feel welcome and important.

"What impresses me about Hailey is that her passion and energy never waver," says Terri Webber, VP of Educational Services at enCircle. "Even if she only has one student in the classroom, she's at the Smart Board showing and coaching as if the room were full. It's as if she's saying, 'you are important enough to get the best of me.'"

Hailey remembers how, as a student, she would model her teachers. If they were neat and organized, she would be too. So, in her classroom, she models what she expects. Her students know what they're supposed to be doing and when. These routines help prepare them for life beyond school.

"Hailey sees beyond a 7, 10, or 15-year-old to a contributing member of society," Terri says. "She's preparing them to be independent, critical thinkers, and community leaders."

In this way, Hailey is building the Bristol of tomorrow. She’s proving that growing a community doesn’t require a title or seat at a table. Sometimes, it just takes fully showing up every day, believing in the potential of every person, and giving them the very best of yourself. And it starts with the children.