Classroom Conversations: Savannah “Ms. V” Gilliham & Zia
At United Elementary 17th Street, Savannah Gilliham — "Ms. V" to students — and fourth-grader Zia share more than their Polar Bear pride. Both are artists who enjoy expressing themselves through creativity, whether through classroom projects, personal artwork, or simply seeing the world through an imaginative lens.
For Ms. V, creativity is woven into everyday learning, encouraging students to explore new ideas and find their own voices. For Zia, art is a way to dream big, try new things, and showcase her unique perspective. Though one approaches creativity as a teacher and the other as a student, both understand the joy and confidence that come from bringing an idea to life.
The Huddle joined the pair in Ms. V's classroom, just before the end of the school year, to listen in on their conversation about artistic dreams, favorite moments from the school year, and what it means to be a "Fearless Fourth Grader."
The Huddle: Can you introduce yourselves?
Ms. V: I'm Ms. V! I'm the teacher of the “Fearless Fourth Graders.” I chose Zia to speak with today because she is just really growing a lot. She's super mature. Zia is just a likable person, and I think she would do great at just talking naturally because she has good conversational skills.
Zia: I'm Zia, and I'm a student of Ms. V. I’ve been with my class since second grade — that was my first year here ever. I’m a Paw Place employee. Paw Place is our school store. You can earn points for values like self-control, empathy, responsibility, and trying your best, and you can spend those points at the Paw Place store. To be a Paw Place employee, you have to have responsibilities. You have to show empathy and self-control because you really have to show younger grades how to act. I also go to an after-school program that partners with our school, Bronzeville StrongStart tutoring at the library.
Zia: What is your favorite thing about this school?
Ms. V: I feel like it's cliché, but the kids! The kids are just funny; they just make the time go faster. It really is true — being with them all day, they're just fun to talk to. There are so many different types of kids. It's just interesting to get to know all of you guys.
Zia: What has changed about this school since you started here?
Ms. V: It's my first year here, so I can't really speak to much change other than you guys — the change in the classroom. When I first met you all, when it came to starting work, it was just a lot of conversations where I had to teach you guys how to do stuff that now you're just very quick with. You guys know the expectations. You don't need me as much. You guys have changed and become really independent.
Zia: What's your favorite memory from this school year?
Ms. V: There are a couple of things, but one is when you guys had to write something positive about each other. Do you remember that? You all got a random name out of a bucket and had to write something positive about each other. And I was actually very worried about that — just because I didn't know what was going to come out of it. But everybody found something positive to say, and I was just really proud of you guys at that moment.
Also, just the other day, when you guys were playing tag as a whole class. That Monday, my whole class had been working on empathy, so when everybody played tag together and had no issues, I was like, “Oh, this is amazing!”
Ms. V: What’s your favorite memory from this school year?
Zia: My favorite memory is when my whole class gets together, and when we just talk or play at recess. Or when I'm talking to my teacher!
Ms. V: Thanks! I'm happy to be a part of your memory. What did you enjoy this year?
Zia: I enjoyed meeting you, obviously! Meeting Ms. V.
Ms. V: What are you proud of right now?
Zia: What I'm proud of is my grades!
Ms. V to The Huddle: Zia’s grades are killing it right now. She's doing great.
Zia: What's your favorite memory of working here?
Ms. V: I think my favorite memory is when I first came, and I didn't know how to get you guys to be quiet. But then, I remember [a student] coming up to me and saying, "Hey, I think you should start clapping. I think clapping would get us to be quiet.” Then, when you guys clapped and went silent, that was the best feeling I've ever felt because my brain just didn't tell me to do that!
Everything that I struggled with as a new teacher, this class is quick to tell you, “I think you should do it this way.” And it's not rude. They're on it. So, my favorite memory is when you guys kind of correct me. I'm grateful to have you guys. We're really a team in here because they've watched me just figure it out.
Ms. V: What was the biggest challenge at school you’ve overcome? I've seen you overcome some things!
Zia: I've overcome a lot of things, actually. Something that might have been hard and that's not as hard anymore would be writing a solid, whole paragraph.
Ms. V: Oh, I love to hear it!
Zia: What's your favorite thing about your job?
Ms. V: My favorite thing about my job is that I just love this class. I really love the amount of personalities. I love how different each of you is. Every single one of you is different, and you are all very your own person. I don't have any kids who are hard to get to know. Everybody's showing up as themselves. So I mean, I just feel like I have the best class ever. I love this class. What’s your favorite thing about going to school here?
Zia: Getting to see my class every day!
Ms. V: Yes! Same.
Zia: What's hard about your job, and how do you overcome that?
Ms. V: What's hard about my job is seeing you guys have things to deal with that are hard. If we have an assignment and then I'm like, "Okay, we're going to do it like this." And then I realize, "Oh, everyone's struggling a little bit." I think the hard part is that I don't want to see you guys struggle. And not getting frustrated, because if I get frustrated and you're frustrated, it just makes everything a mess. So, just the hardest part is letting you guys productively struggle. Letting you guys struggle for the better. That's hard.
Ms. V: What do you look forward to for the rest of fourth grade?
Zia: Hanging out with my class and my teacher more often because time goes by quickly.
Ms. V: Yeah, we’re going super fast. Because we're going so fast, what are you looking forward to next year?
Zia: Good grades, new friends, and an awesome new year!
Zia: Why did you want to work in a school?
Ms. V: Honestly, I wanted to work in a school because you guys are great teachers. I feel like people don't always think about that, but the kids will teach you confidence and authenticity. They'll teach you how to have no fear, and that's really why you guys are called the “Fearless Fourth Grade” because the fearlessness is not only for you guys. It's for me, too, to learn, and you guys are perfect examples. Sometimes you guys push me to be like, “Okay, maybe I need to be a little bit more authentic. Maybe I need to be a little bit more creative, a little less serious.” I think those are the skills that I really wanted to work on within myself, right? So I thought the best people to learn from were kids.
Ms. V: What do you like to do outside of school?
Zia: I like to hang out with my family. I like to go outside and play basketball with my brother and have free time.
Ms. V: Yeah, we talked about free time. You really love free time. [To The Huddle] Zia is a busy girl, so her free time is not always that big!
Zia: What do you like to do outside of school, and how do you relax?
Ms. V: I paint a lot. I'm sometimes covered in paint, but I just love being outside and painting. Sometimes it's meditation. Sometimes it's just going outside to see murals and graffiti. Like, I just like looking at stuff. I like seeing stuff for the first time.
Ms. V: What are you looking forward to this summer?
Zia: Getting to hang out with my friends and see my whole family, like my mom and dad's side. What are you looking forward to?
Ms. V: Just waking up and not having to come to work. I came here right from school, then started working, so I haven't just woken up and been able to do what I want in a while.
Zia: Like, you can dance in your house and listen to music!
Ms. V: Yeah, all day! Whenever I want. I am just going to be excited about seeing the sun and being able to interact with the outside whenever I want to. During the year, I look forward to your recesses as much as you do!
Ms. V: What book are you reading right now, or what’s your favorite?
Zia: The author’s last name of my favorite books is William, I'm pretty sure, and he made a book about two characters, an elephant and a pig. It's a two-person perspective, and they're trying to figure out stuff: “What was that sound?” “It was a trumpet!” They're trying to figure things out together or working together to get things done.
Ms. V: Okay, cool. I got to look into that. We've got to find it.
Zia: What's your favorite book? Are you reading anything now?
Ms. V: I'm reading, like, three books. I have a habit of reading multiple books at a time. One of my favorite books is Monday's Not Coming, about a little girl at school looking for her friend. She thinks her friend is missing this whole time, right? She's like, “I'm looking for my friend.” And it seems like nobody cares, right? But, we later find out, her friend had passed on years ago. She really loves her friend, and it's hard for her to accept that her friend's not here anymore, so she's always telling people how great her friend is. I think it's really cool because you can see the love of friendship. She really cares about this person. So yeah, that's probably my favorite.
Right now, I'm reading Their Eyes Were Watching God [by Zora Neale Hurston], and then I'm reading another book, by Angela Davis, called Women, Race, and Class.
Ms. V: What's your biggest goal for the school year?
Zia: My biggest goals for this year are to boost my grades a little bit, talk to most of the people in my class, and play with them a lot.
Ms. V: Yeah, I see you doing that! I see all of you guys sharing empathy. You guys are talking. I think you're really meeting that goal, and your grades have gone up! So, you're on track, girl.
Zia: What are your goals for this year?
Ms. V: My goal for this year is to finish planning for my art show and to give you guys a fun last week of school. I really just think you guys deserve it. I am strict on you guys, but it's because I know you can do hard things, and you do. I'm seeing you guys grow, and I'm always telling you what we can do better, but I really want you to know you're topping it every single week — I just have to keep setting new goals because we can't stop. I want you guys to know that at the end of the year, I really do appreciate you. You've taught me as much as I taught you. I just want you guys to go out with a bang because y'all are my first class, and I'm sending you off. I want you guys to feel good about being “Fearless Fourth Graders.” Make it feel like it was all worth it at the end.
Ms. V: How can I best support you for the rest of the year?
Zia: I feel like focusing on math and science is one of my biggest things.
Ms. V: Okay, so you want support in math and science?
Zia: Yes.
Ms. V: Okay. Understand that. Well, I can't help you with math, but I'll support you by telling your math teacher, and I got you in science. All you have to do is participate, and you’ll get it.
Zia: How can I be the best student this year?
Ms. V: Zia, honestly, I feel like I picked you because you are one of the best students. I feel like that's already a given. I think the biggest thing is just being accountable, which you are. We had one conversation about behavior the whole year, and the same day, you came to me with a letter, “It'll never happen again.” And it never happened again. You are accountable. You being the best student is literally just being yourself. You have everything you need. Just keep being yourself. Just stay “Zia.”
Ms. V: What is your dream college or career?
Zia: My dream college is Franklin University because that's where my sister went. And my dream career is to be an artist like you!
Ms. V: Oh, thanks! [To The Huddle] Yeah, she dressed up as an artist for Career Day. I was so happy. It was great.
The Huddle: What do you appreciate most about one another?
Ms. V: Zia stands in what she believes in. Even if it's not the class agreeing, she has no problem being like, "Y'all, this was wrong. We need to work towards being right." She has no issue doing that. She is also just really unfazed by people's comments about her. When someone said anything mean on the playground, you said, “I don't care,” and went about your day. I was like, “She doesn't care!” It was such an exciting moment for me because you're sweet. You're a little quieter sometimes, but you're not someone that people can just say anything to or do anything to. She doesn't play!
Zia: I most appreciate getting to see her every day. I appreciate her personality and her being herself.
Ms. V: Oh, thank you. I learned from you. I'm glad that you feel that way.
The Huddle: Is there anything you'd like to say to those who support your school?
Zia: Thank you for your time!
Ms. V: I would say, “Stop by!” so we could just see you guys! The students know people are working for them, but it's kind of hard to imagine people whom you don't know yet, right? So, I think just stopping by is really cool. I think you'll get more excited about everything because the kids are really exciting. If you're ever in a brain fog of just not knowing where or what to do — like where to put the time, where to put the money — getting to know the kids will immediately give you those answers. Come see them. They want to see you guys. They love it when you guys come around.
Listening to Ms. V and Zia is a reminder that creativity is about more than paint, pencils, or paper. It's about curiosity, confidence, and the willingness to try something new — even when the outcome isn't certain.
At 17th St., students are encouraged to think boldly, express themselves authentically, and discover their own strengths along the way. Whether through art, academics, or everyday challenges, those experiences help build the skills and self-belief that carry students forward.
Thank you to Ms. V and Zia for sharing their conversation with The Huddle and for showing how creativity, perseverance, and a little fearlessness can make learning even more meaningful.
Connection is a hallmark of United culture, and this is a glimpse into the dialogues that define our campuses.
