Teaching is a noble job. We all can agree on it. However, this teacher has proven that we can teach students beyond the scope of textbooks. Natalie Stuart is an elementary school teacher in Miami, Florida, who asks her students to design her nails from time to time. Speaking to Good Morning America, she explained: “It is so important for me to make connections with my students and to infuse activities that are unique and creative or something that they might not even think that may be involved in a school.”
Stuart revealed that she got this idea from another educator on TikTok who did the same. The teacher added, “My kids know I am a huge nail person. My nails are done every two weeks. And so when I told them, ‘Who wants to design my nails?’ They were like, ‘What? We get to design your nails?'”
She then found a template online of two hands with empty nails, made several copies of it and handed them out to her students for them to draw whatever nail art designs they liked. “I took it to my nail tech, Sharlene. I asked, what do you think of this idea? Is that something you would be willing to do?” Stuart revealed. Her nail artist responded, “Absolutely, let’s go.”
Stuart continued, “And the first time we did it, it was a hit. It’s fun, they love doing it. They love getting inspiration from the internet and they love coming up with their own designs. At the end of the day, they see it in their teacher. Wow, I did it. It is a sense of pride.”
This year the nail tech, Sharlene, said, “You know what, the winner needs something” and then they came up with a prize. “Let’s just give them a free gel manicure. So that is what we do now,” said Stuart. The best part about this prize is that Stuart designs the winner’s nails and she keeps in mind the winner student’s personalities and likes and dislikes. She incorporates their favorite colors and themes as well.
The learnings from this contest do not end here. The educator also tells her students how sometimes, despite their best efforts, they might not be able to win. She said, “I use the Olympics as an example of that. Even though you might not win a medal at the Olympics, you should be proud that you made it to the Olympics. Your hard work got you somewhere. I always remind the kids your nail design may not win, but that is OK.”
They have also come up with an idea to acknowledge and appreciate the designs that do not win. They have come up with a binder, “we are going to put protective sleeves in it. And Sharlene, my nail tech, and I are going to put all the unused designs in the binder and keep it at the salon.” It will help customers at the salon to pick a design for themselves. Anyone would be lucky to have a teacher like Stuart, who is combining work and play for her students.
