"She makes my day better every day:" Lauren Massee creates a safe space at William James Middle School

Click here to nominate an educator for WJCL's Teacher Feature.Lauren Massee has been a guidance counselor at William James Middle School in Statesboro for almost 20 years. "I think right now mental health is such a growing need. I think it's a very important need for these kids," Massee said. Working with children for so many years, Massee has learned students need a safe space. "I think a lot of the kids I've learned over time just want to feel heard and they want to be seen. They want to have a voice and they sometimes need that safe place and safe person," Massee said. Sixth grader Logan Evans nominated Massee for this award. "Every time I go in her classroom and I have a problem she'll listen to me and she'll help me get rid of it or help cool me down," Evans said. With it being his first year in middle school, Evans says Massee has really made a difference. "If I feel down, she brings me up, and if I need help, she gets me through it," Evans said. Massee comes from an entire family of educators. Both her husband and sister showed up for this surprise and also work within the district. Massee said no two days are the same but her students are always most important. "Sometimes I walk in the door and there are kids waiting on me. I talk to parents. I get to talk to teachers. I try to make seeing the kids the priority. There's some other stuff that comes along with the job," Massee said. At the end of the day, Massee said she wants the students to know she cares about them. She said, "What I always want for these kids is to feel like they are loved and seen and heard. If they can end their day just knowing someone was happy to see them and check in on them and loving them, I think that's so important." Evans added, "She just makes my day better every day."Click here to see other teachers who have been honored with the WJCL 22 Teacher Feature Award.