Houston County students return to class for new school year

Tiana Johnson says building relationships can ease first-day nerves and help students feel comfortable at school.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Houston County students in pre-K through 12th grade returned to classrooms Tuesday for the first day of the new school year.

New Miller Elementary School Principal Tiana Johnson says she is not only excited about the first day of school, but also thrilled to get to know her new students and staff.

“I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m nervous, scared,” Johnson said. “I just have all the feels, but overall, I just feel extremely blessed and excited to be here.”

Johnson believes students started off on the right foot Tuesday morning.

“It’s electric!” Johnson said. “Everyone is coming in smiling. There were no tears, just smiles everywhere. Students came in bouncing; they were ready to meet their new teacher and friends and excited about the new school year.”

Johnson says teachers and staff want to build relationships with their students to keep them from getting nervous.

“The students are nervous and the teachers are nervous,” Johnson said .”So, by building those relationships we’re able to bond with our students. We’re here to let them know it’s okay to be nervous, and we’re all one big family and we’re going to get through this together.”

Johnson hopes students are ready to return when the final bell rings.

“We want to make sure they’re making memories,” Johnson said. “So, when they get home at the end of the day, they’re excited to come back into our building.”

Volunteers Hope Shuler and Anella Ogunsakin say showing up for young people is important.

“It’s all about being active in the community,” Shuler said. “We always say we want to make an impact; well, this is part of making the impact: greeting the kids on the first day, seeing them smile, releasing some of the anxiety and stressors they have going on. We want to make sure the first day is a great day.”

“We’re in a time where people don’t know what love is,” Ogunsakin said. “So, just being blessed with being able on this nice sunny day, have people come out and greet them is something they’ll always remember.”

Johnson was recently the assistant principal of instruction at David Perdue Elementary.