Love has a beautiful way of coming full circle, and for Texas preschool teacher Zoe Kampf, that circle includes the sweetest group of tiny celebration planners imaginable.

When Kampf walked into her classroom at Shlenker School on December 12th, she was greeted by an absolutely precious sight. Her preschool students, dressed to the nines in floral tiaras and bow ties, had transformed their learning space into a mini bridal shower complete with cookies, decorations, a sash, veil, and crown. The surprise was orchestrated by her fiancé Sean Folloder, a high school geometry teacher and football coach, who knew exactly how to make his bride-to-be feel celebrated.

"I was really surprised," Kampf shared with the Jewish Herald-Voice. "They had cookies and decorated the classroom. It was really cute." The genuine affection between this teacher and her students was palpable, with every child excited to be part of such a special moment.

Folloder's gesture speaks volumes about the kind of partnership these two share. "She is such a great teacher and everyone, from her kids to her kids' parents to the staff, loves her," he said. His recognition of her dedication and the love she pours into her work shows a deep appreciation that goes beyond romance.

The couple's story reads like a storybook itself. Both Kampf and Folloder attended Shlenker School as children, walking the same hallways decades before they would fall in love. Kampf's connection to the school runs especially deep, as her grandfather, former Rabbi Samuel Karff, founded Shlenker School in 1967. "We definitely have a lot in common, both being raised at Beth Israel and at Shlenker," Kampf explained. "It is nice to be in touch with our Jewish heritage and have that in common."

But perhaps the most heartwarming twist in their love story involves Folloder's grandmother, Barbie Freedman, who happens to be Shlenker's longest-tenured teacher with 41 years of service. Freedman taught Kampf as a toddler, and years later, she played matchmaker when both young adults were working at summer camp in 2021.

"I was the summer camp director and Sean was volunteering and helping me," Freeman recalled. She strategically sent Folloder on errands to Kampf's side of the building, and soon the two started spending time together. When Freedman suggested they should date, they took her advice. One sushi dinner later, and the rest became history.

Folloder proposed on December 23, 2024, and the couple is now planning their January 2026 Houston wedding.

Sunny's Take

This story sparkles with the kind of warmth that reminds us how communities nurture love across generations. Those preschoolers, barely old enough to understand marriage, instinctively knew their teacher deserved celebration. Freedman, at 81 years old and still teaching with passion, connected two people who had always been part of her world. She's witnessed their entire journey, from toddlerhood to this beautiful chapter, and jokingly wonders if she'll still be teaching when their children attend Shlenker. "I'll try and see how things go," she said with a smile. "That would be such an amazing thing." In a world that often moves too fast, this story reminds us that the best relationships are rooted in shared values, community, and people who genuinely want to see us happy.