Daniela and Samuel Tirrito influence children at school and home
By Jennifer Jordan

Daniela and Samuel with their children, Sam, Clara, Emma, and Sofia. photo by shane darby

A love for educating children comes naturally to local teachers Daniela and Samuel Tirrito. On a given weekday, they spend time with a diverse range of ages, from Daniela’s elementary-aged pupils to Samuel’s high school students. Between them, Daniela and Samuel have a combined 30 years in education. Instructing, listening, supporting, soothing—an educator’s daily to-do list—all continue after the final bell, as they parent four young children of their own.

Samuel and Daniela both graduated from Texas High School, where Samuel has taught a variety of English courses for the past 11 years. Daniela’s students are at the opposite end of their K-12 years; she has taught pre-k, kindergarten, and 1st grade, all in bilingual classrooms. She worked at Texarkana ISD as an instructional aide while earning her teaching degree, which she obtained in 2010.

Friends and family showed up to support Clara when Temple Memorial Pediatric Center presented her as “Kid of the Year” at their 2025 golf tournament. submitted photo

Daniela and Samuel’s schooling in TISD clearly made an impact on them, although each decided upon a career in education in their own way.

“It may sound cliche, but the teachers I encountered, both as a student and while working as an aide, profoundly shaped the educator I am today,” said Daniela, who was born in Mexico and immigrated with her family to the U.S. when she was young. “As an English learner, I will never forget the teachers who took the time and had the patience to support me and my family while we were still learning the language,” she explained. “Their compassion and dedication inspired me, and I strive to be that kind of teacher for my students.”

Choosing education was not as immediate for Samuel. As a teen, he worked with the school district in the summers as a custodian, a job he retained while studying at Texarkana College. He chose to become an English teacher because literature was something he loved and understood.

Both Daniela and Samuel’s commitment to the profession shines through their approaches to their students, which they learned from their own teachers.

“Building strong home connections has become a cornerstone of my teaching philosophy,” Daniela shared. “I remember how meaningful it was when my teachers reached out to my parents, and I carry that with me. Every time I call a student’s family, I’m reminded of those conversations I had with my parents after they spoke to my teachers. I know not all students have the same support system at home, and that makes my role even more vital—to be a consistent, caring presence in their lives.”

Samuel explained that a key tenet of his pedagogy is empowering his students to be critical thinkers. “I had a lot of strong teachers as I went through school, and that basis for critical thinking seemed to me to be the most important thing for students to learn—that if you had those skills, then you could do anything that you wanted to,” he said. “That still feels like one of the best things you could provide to someone else.”

The four Tirrito children range in age from 4 to 9, attend different schools, and have various after-school activities and therapies. Clara, age 5, is a client at Temple Memorial Pediatric Center, the only local nonprofit provider of pediatric therapies. Clara was chosen as Temple’s 2025 Kid of the Year—an honor that reflects tremendous effort and progress.

Daniela said that the title has helped build Clara’s confidence. “Clara works hard; any time you try to teach her something, she is excited and willing to learn,” Daniela explained. “She keeps trying until she knows she has done her best. Her therapists do an outstanding job at telling us what they have done in therapy with her, and we try our best to continue practicing those skills at home.”

Clara represented Temple Memorial recently at its annual golf tournament. “She talked about it for weeks,” Samuel said. “She was so excited to get to wear her purple shirt, and she was ready to go play golf as well. Clara loves getting attention, and a lot of family and friends showed up for her out there, and you could tell that she knew it.”

Daniela said that her career as a teacher has helped shape her approach to parenting. “I believe being a teacher has made me a better parent, and being a parent has made me a better teacher,” she reflected. “Working with children every day has taught me the value of strong communication, encouraging curiosity, and nurturing creative thinking—skills I prioritize both in the classroom and at home. I’ve also seen how much students benefit from structure and clear expectations, which has reinforced the importance of providing the same kind of consistency and guidance for my own children.”

Samuel believes that he would parent the same way, regardless of his profession. “I want my kids to be able to think for themselves—that’s the main thing,” he said. “I try to ask them a lot of questions, and since I do that in the classroom daily, maybe I am a little better at it than I would be otherwise.”

When school resumes in August, Daniela is excited to begin a new job teaching third grade language arts at Pleasant Grove Intermediate School. Samuel noted that their morning routine will probably have to adjust itself—“The recent I-30 changes will make it a lot more interesting in the fall,” he quipped. No matter, the Tirritos will figure it out, as they continue to develop young minds and hearts at home and in the classroom.

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