For Savannah DeNio, fourth grade teaching is her destiny
HFC student Savannah DeNio comes from a long line of teachers – a line that she plans to continue.
She is most interested in 4th grade, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Angela Carlton, and her grandfather, Greg DeNio. Her grandfather taught at Roosevelt Elementary School in Livonia.
“That’s where I went to school,” said DeNio, of Livonia. “I would love to teach there someday. Some of my former teachers remember my grandfather and me, and it would be very special if I were able to go back and teach there.”
Added HFC psychology instructor Alison Buchanan: “Savannah just loves being in the classroom. Fourth grade is her jam!”
Volunteering in classrooms pointed to her career path
Born in Farmington Hills, DeNio is the eldest of two. She is an alumna of Franklin High School in Livonia. She is majoring in elementary education at HFC, where she is a member of the Henry Ford II Honors Program. She will graduate from HFC at the end of 2026. She then plans to transfer to Wayne State University and finish her bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
“My dad, Dustin DeNio, graduated from HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) many years ago. He was also in the Honors Program like I am, which is why I chose HFC in the first place,” said DeNio. “My cousin Aly Emmerick and I graduated from high school at the same time and decided that going to HFC together would be fun. She is also in education and wants to teach high school English.”
Initially, DeNio majored in computer science at HFC. That changed when she completed her Honors Program volunteer hours at her aunt’s classroom at Hillcrest Elementary School in Dearborn Heights. She chose to spend more time beyond the required hours with the young students.
“It was the highlight of my week, and I realized how happy it made me helping them with reading and math,” she explained. “I felt more of a passion being in the classroom than I did about my major. I spent many hours in different classrooms and different grades. I spent much of my time with my aunt's students and in the special needs room, working one-on-one or in small groups. I also spent a few days working with English Language Learning (ELL) students, doing flashcards and simple games to strengthen their English-speaking skills. I have spent time in all grades, doing all types of activities. I loved working with all the teachers. After my first year at HFC, I decided to switch my major to elementary education, and I have been so happy.”
The importance of brain breaks
Buchanan, who taught DeNio’s Introductory Psychology class, served as her Honors Program mentor. In early May, DeNio presented at Honors Day. Her presentation was called "Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Brain Breaks in the Classroom."
SEL is being increasingly integrated in classrooms across the United States, emphasizing mindfulness and teaching students how to better manage their emotions. SEL includes brain breaks, which are short, structured activities designed to help students refocus on their assignments. Brain breaks can take many forms, including physical activities, mindfulness exercises, and sensory tools. They can be a chance to reset before continuing a lesson, especially if students or teachers are feeling frustrated, noted DeNio. Studies have indicated that fatigue tends to set in later in the day, often leading to decreased focus and lower academic performance. Incorporating short breaks can help reduce this fatigue and improve student engagement.
“During my time volunteering at Hillcrest, teachers conducted regular SEL lessons with their students. This is the first time I was introduced to SEL, and I thought it was amazing that schools are taking the time to teach their students different ways to re-collect themselves and how to calm themselves – both inside and outside of the classroom. While deciding on a topic for SEL, I knew I wanted to do something related to the classroom. After discussing it with Mrs. Buchanan, we decided that brain breaks were an interesting topic to research, and they could make a fun presentation,” explained DeNio.
Her favorite part about the directed study was spending time in the classroom. In addition to my volunteer hours, DeNio also spent time interviewing and talking to teachers – particularly her aunt and kindergarten teacher Jackie Witkowski at Kennedy Elementary School in Livonia – and students to get information about what types of brain breaks they use.
“They answered my questions, showed me the resources they like to use, and even let me take pictures of posters that they have,” said DeNio. “I learned a lot about what types of brain breaks students like, and how that can vary between ages and students. I look forward to implementing SEL lessons and brain breaks into a classroom of my own!”
“She will make a great teacher”
What impressed Buchanan about DeNio was the amount of growth she achieved over a short period of time. At first, DeNio was anxious about presenting her research. She spent three weeks with Buchanan working on her presentation. “She nailed it! I was really proud of her. She’s come a long way and has gotten more comfortable making presentations. She will make a great teacher,” said Buchanan. “Savannah is amazing. What’s funny about Savannah is she’s almost like a well-kept secret because she is super quiet. Once you get to know her, she’s this bright light.”
DeNio sees the Honors Program as a path to professional success.
“This presentation was one of my first professional events, and I really enjoyed Honors Day,” she said. “It was inspiring to listen to everyone's presentations after a semester of hard work!”
HFC has also taught DeNio effective time management skills. In the Winter 2026 semester, DeNio was taking six classes, while working as a manager at Westborn Market in Livonia.
“That kept me very busy, but I also used a variety of techniques to keep myself organized,” she said. “My favorite was my planner, where I kept everything written down and organized. Tools like my planner are things I plan to take with me into my teaching career to ensure that I keep up with lesson planning and grading my students' assignments.”
For DeNio, her favorite part about attending HFC has been the people.
“In all of my classes, even online, everyone is so nice,” she said. “I have been on field trips and done group projects with people, and everyone is always kind and friendly. I enjoy working with other students, especially those in the education field, who are all so passionate and friendly every time they come to class. My professors have been helpful and want to help you succeed. HFC offers many different programs and tutors to help you. Take full advantage!”
DeNio continued: “Education runs in my family. My grandpa and aunt are teachers, my grandma was a school secretary, and my other grandma was a school bus driver. I feel like my cousin and I becoming teachers was meant to be!”