Josie Adolf | 5th-grade teacher | Northeast Academy
In Josie Adolf’s fifth-grade classroom at Northeast Academy, the learning goes beyond grammar and vocabulary. “We’re really reading books, digging into them,” Josie—better known as Miss A to her students—shares. “The themes we talk about are so great for 5th grade. Our essential questions tackle things like how one person impacts a community? How can we improve women’s rights? One of the essential questions in our current book is how did the Taliban affect the everyday lives of citizens? These can get really deep and critical.”
For Josie, teaching isn’t just a career; it’s a calling. “I always knew I wanted to teach,” she says. Growing up in Maine as the daughter and granddaughter of educators, Josie spent her childhood helping others learn, whether volunteering at her hometown’s community theater or leading classes for younger children. “I basically grew up teaching even when I was growing up myself.”
After studying linguistics and Arabic at William & Mary and teaching English to classes in Morocco, Josie joined the Capital Teaching Residency program at KIPP DC. “I joined CTR because I wanted to set myself up to be the best teacher I could be for my students,” she explains.
Now in her second year as a full-time lead teacher at KIPP DC, Josie is dedicated to creating spaces where students can explore complex topics, ask hard questions, and feel safe doing so. Josie believes that structured discussions not only teach students about the world but also help them develop empathy. “Having these conversations structured has been really good for the students. Like empathy, for example. They haven’t started feeling empathy in the same way. So, to be taught in a structured environment and then see examples of what empathy is and one person’s impact on a community and in this world–you begin to see it in how they interact with each other.” Through conversations about the characters and real-life examples, her students begin to “learn and practice very real developmental skills.”
One memorable conversation started with a classroom rule: no one says, “Shut up.” What began as a discussion about respect quickly became a moment of vulnerability. “We sat really honestly and talked about our own experiences, like having issues with anger or being snapped at by our families,” Josie recalls. “It was a conversation I’ll remember.”
For Josie, building trust with her students is all about consistency. “I always show up every day exactly the same,” she says. “I use the same phrases, and I say, ‘I love you,’ a billion times. Over time, it shows that I am a consistent, safe individual in their life.”
Josie’s love for teaching is evident in everything she does. “I love kids. I think they’re hilarious, crazy, and interesting,” she says with a laugh. “All of the things I like about myself come out while teaching. It’s why I love English Language Arts, why I love teaching reading—because regardless of how you feel about any other subject, you’ve got to know how to read to do anything in this life.”
At the end of the day, Josie hopes to leave her students with one important takeaway: “I love you. I’m always here. This space we’ve built is safe, and that can be enough.”
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