SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — There’s no saying ‘I can’t’ in Teri Kerns’ fourth-grade classroom at Mack Benn, Jr. Elementary School in Suffolk.

“Those two words are not allowed in my room unless they are follow it by ‘I can’t yet,'” Kerns said. “So anytime that they say ‘I can’t do this,’ I tell them, ‘yes you can.'”

Kerns has worked at Mack Benn for 20 years, but has been teaching for 13 years. She was a paraprofessional there while she was going to school to be a teacher.

“Teaching has always been my passion,” she said. “I feel like the kids need to know that they’re capable of doing anything that they set their mind to.”

Kerns said she enjoys seeing her students’ reactions when they understand a skill that was once difficult for them.

“The most passionate thing for me is to see is when that light bulb goes off when they’ve been struggling with something all year,” she said. “That’s the biggest joy for me because it’s like that ‘aha, I finally got it’ moment for them, and it also boosts their ego.”

This year, she’s given more than 500 “Caught Being Good” cards.

“They know Mrs. Kerns means business, but they also know that I’m going to reward them for whatever good that they’re doing, and they work for it,” she said.

Two of her students shared why they love their teacher.

“The way she teaches and her sweetness,” said Brielle Moore.

“She’s nice. She has activities for us to do, and she takes time away from her day to make our day better,” said Wyatt Legrand.

Kerns was born and raised in the Bronx borough of New York City. She spent four years in the U.S. Coast Guard before moving to Hampton Roads to be closer to her sister.

She’s married with three children and four grandchildren. She said that, while growing up, she let other people’s opinions dictate her life. Kerns wants her students to follow whatever path they want for themselves. She hopes her students know how much she cares about them.

“I want them to remember that Mrs. Kerns loved them the year that I had them,” she said, “that I don’t want any student ever leaving my room feeling like I didn’t care for them or I didn’t love them. And also that whatever they set their mind to is what they can do. I don’t ever want any student to ever leave my classroom and think that they can’t do anything because they’re capable of doing anything.”