Millions of children around the world are out of school due to conflict, poverty, lack of education systems and infrastructure, and other issues. Educating children living in difficult contexts is the best way to empower them with the knowledge and competencies to rise to their full potential despite the challenges they face. Dedicated and passionate teachers play a key role in fostering learning, providing psychosocial support, and establishing a sense of normality in extreme circumstances. Teachers have the power to lift children up and help them thrive. In this article, the author examines the state of primary education in a Japanese-American internment camp in Arkansas during World War II and finds that committed teachers with the freedom to adapt their curriculum to meet diverse needs helped thousands of students through difficult and restrictive circumstances.