Ms. Vega| 4th Grade | Lead Academy
For our September spotlight, we stopped by Ms. Emily Vega’s vibrant fourth grade classroom, where she practices every day to create a sense of belonging and community. As a member of the KIPP DC family for six years, Ms. Vega has continually nurtured connections with her students and colleagues, fostering a classroom where every child feels seen, heard, and celebrated.
Emily knew she wanted to be a teacher early in her career. “When I was a student in New York, I really loved a couple of my teachers. They made me love being at school, love reading, love writing and all these things,” shared Ms. Vega. “I think back to my 4th grade teacher. She really shaped my life and believed in me. And so when I was thinking, post grad, what did I want to become? What did I want to do? I knew I wanted to be someone like her. The Capital Teaching Residency was the perfect opportunity.”
Now, as a fourth-grade teacher herself, she helps bring out that same love and inspiration in her students. During our visit, Ms. Vega’s class was engaging in their daily “Kid of the Day” activity, featuring a student named Kyleigh. Kyleigh shared an object special to her, a camera, and her classmates eagerly asked questions, providing space for genuine exchanges and connections. Following this, the class celebrated Kyleigh, contributing to a poster highlighting her achievements and how she embodies the school’s core values: Lead, Love, and Learn. In an incredibly thoughtful gesture, Kyleigh picked classmates who hadn’t yet had the chance to share or ask questions, ensuring everyone had a voice in the celebration. It was a beautiful example of inclusivity and empathy in action.
Ms. Vega explains the importance of this daily ritual: “Kid of the Day is an activity that is special to my classroom. Students can share a piece of themselves with the class through show and tell, learn from one another and celebrate the accomplishments of their peers. Over the school year, ‘Kid of the Day’ morphs into ‘DJ of the Day’ where students share a song that is special to them, ‘Teacher of the Day’ teaches the class a unique skill, “Gamer of the Day” gets to lead us in a class game, etc.”
Ms. Vega began this tradition during her time teaching first graders, and she quickly realized that older students also benefit from leading and sharing with their peers. “When I moved to teaching fourth grade, I knew I had to bring this activity with me. It’s become a daily reminder of the importance of creating space for students to share, listen, and celebrate each other.”
“Students realize that they not only learn from their teachers but can learn so much from each other,” Ms. Vega continues. “This moment during the day is a unique time where students are the center of attention and get to share a bit about themselves with their classmates, which helps create a sense of community every single day.“
By making this simple yet profound activity a part of her daily routine, Ms. Vega has cultivated a classroom culture where belonging thrives and students uplift one another every single day.
See photos of Kyleigh’s share and more activities during our visit
Want to help inspire future learners? Learn more about joining the Capital Teaching Residency.
