My name is Rachel Sapp. I am a Senior at Old Dominion University majoring Elementary Education with a minor in History. The person I am today was shaped by years and years of self-reliance and overcoming a multitude of obstacles to bring me to my true purpose. I have been lucky to have learned from a variety of people and cultures throughout my life that allowed me to value differing opinions and cultural experiences. I felt called to teaching in Kindergarten. There was never a doubt in my mind that teaching was my end goal, even at five years old. Despite gaining experience in different industries, teaching has always felt like home.

I believe the purpose of school is found in the social and civic responsibility of the school -- to help children learn and grow to be functioning humans. In my classroom, the most import thing my students will learn is how to take care of themselves. This will be achieved via mental health practices and coping mechanisms. My students will learn these skills via the dedicated time set aside for this skillset. For example, students may find meditation to be very beneficial when practiced daily. I would hope my students would value honesty, kindness, and understanding in my classroom. I will nurture my students while providing healthy boundaries and encouraging them to grow to their full potential. I believe my personal philosophy falls between progressivism and essentialism. One word to describe me as a teacher would be "nurturing." If a visitor walked into my classroom, they would see clear expectations around the room, an area to show off student work, pods of students to encourage collaboration, and a cozy "cool down" corner for when big feelings overwhelm them.