From Rwanda to Knox County: Teacher finds her dream classroom at ESC Preschool

Most teachers would swallow hard if they stepped into a classroom of 80 – yes, 80 – third and fourth graders.

But Samantha Languis (you can call her “Sam”) enthusiastically accepted that challenge for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English to children in the east African nation of Rwanda, where she lived in a small concrete house with no running water.

In August the Heath native began teaching at the Knox Educational Service Center’s preschool in Mount Vernon, 9,700 miles (as the crow flies) from the dusty roads of Rwanda.

“My Peace Corps experience was wonderful, and I will always be grateful for it, but teaching preschool has been my dream,” Languis said. “This is my favorite age of children (3, 4 and 5). Being here at the (Knox ESC) preschool is awesome.”

Languis and assistant teacher Lyndsey Kanniard have a morning class of 13 children and 12 others in their afternoon class.

“Our goal is to make sure the kids know that school is a safe, fun place to learn. We are regulating emotions, learning to take turns and listen to others,” Languis said. “This age range is the most fun for me, seeing them grow and change. If they don’t enjoy preschool, it’s going to be tough for them to buy into education later.”

After high school Languis earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and intervention specialist from Capital University. She is working on her master’s in curriculum and instruction online from Western Governors University.

Before joining the Knox ESC Preschool she was a fourth-grade intervention specialist at East Knox Local Schools for two years. 

The path that led to her Peace Corps work from 2017 to 2019 began while she was still in high school.

“A Peace Corps representative came to speak at an assembly. That ignited my interest,” Languis recalled.

There were 39 volunteers in her Peace Corps cohort.

“We lived with host families for three months during training, then we were assigned to various villages,” Languis said. “The oldest daughter in my host family spoke English, which made things easier.”

Languis’ teaching assignment was at a village school that included 80 third- and fourth-graders in the same classroom.

“I taught four 45-minute classes of about 80 kids each twice a week,” she said. “I had a local co-teacher to help with translations. But having that many kids in the same room wasn’t bad because it is their custom for children to sit at their desks, listen and pay attention.”

Away from school, she lived in a small house with concrete floors and walls and a tin roof.

“I had electricity most of the time, but no refrigeration. There was no running water, so I had to pay someone to fetch water for me everyday,” she said.

“I bought food at the local market one day a week and cooked for myself – rice, eggs, vegetables and bread. No meat because there was no refrigeration.”

Occasionally, she would eat at the village restaurant. “Goat Bischoff was my favorite.”

Languis’ experience in the local culture included attending a few weddings.

“Their weddings last all day. There are lots of speeches,” Languis said.

She also witnessed ceremonies on the anniversary of the 1994 genocide during the Rwandan Civil War in which an estimated 1 million people perished.

“There was a lot of talk about forgiveness.”

Languis came home only once while in the Peace Corps, for two weeks at Christmas. She stays in touch with a few friends from those years, including the “market momma” where she bought produce.

“I send her a little money now and then to help with her kids’ school fees,” she said.

At home in Knox County, Languis and husband Jeremy have a 1-year-old son, Dax.

“Again, I am so glad to be here at the preschool, but I will always be thankful for my experience in Rwanda. I learned so much about what I am as a person, so much about myself.”