In a classroom filled with tiny voices, colorful posters, and big dreams, one thing stands out immediately about this Hempstead Early Childhood Center pre-k teacher: kindness matters.
For Lori Bowen, 2025 Be Bold Award recipient, teaching pre-k is about far more than letters and numbers. It’s about building confidence, character, and courage in students from the very start.
For this dedicated educator, being bold means taking chances and leading with heart.
“Being bold in the classroom means taking chances,” Bowen shared. “It means being a leader and helping others with kindness as often as you can. Even if you fail, that gets you closer to success. Never give up and know you are a champion. Determination and strength are key.”
That message is woven into every part of her classroom culture, affectionately known as “Team Kindness.” From daily routines to celebrations of positive behavior, students are constantly encouraged to support one another, try their best, and believe in themselves.
One of her favorite parts of teaching is witnessing the incredible growth that happens during the Pre-K years.
“Whether it’s letters, sounds, physical, emotional, or watching them take a leadership role, they gain self-confidence at such a young age,” she said. “It’s fun to watch them grow into their own special person.”
Her classroom is intentionally designed to feel safe, structured, and welcoming. She works tirelessly to help each student reach their full potential while also teaching life lessons that extend far beyond academics.
“I want them to know they can make a difference by helping a friend, being a friend, and understanding that kindness matters,” she explained. “Everyone is different, and we should celebrate those differences and embrace them.”
Positive behavior is at the center of everything her students do. Each day, students follow the classroom’s Tiny CAT Schedule. CAT stands for Care for others, Always listen, and Try our best. These reminders are displayed throughout the classroom, hallways, and cafeteria to reinforce the importance of being positive role models.
Her approach to kindness is simple. Whenever she catches a student showing kindness without being prompted, she adds a ball to a classroom jar. Once the jar is full, the class celebrates together with pizza and ice cream parties.
“It costs nothing to be kind, and it makes a huge difference,” she said.
Bowen believes the districtwide initiative to Be Bold has helped create a shared sense of purpose across campuses.
“I love the Be Bold concept and that it is incorporated at all of our campuses,” she shared. “It reinforces our values, reminds us all of what’s important, and that knowledge is power. Every single student can do and be anything. There is no limit for our students.”
Bowen is helping shape confident learners and compassionate leaders, proving that even the smallest students can make the biggest impact.