Imagine being told you’re going to fail before you even begin.
It was late summer 2015, just before the doors of Northfield High School officially opened. Early in the morning, the building was still quiet and the halls still empty, the campus full of possibilities. Outside the front entrance, educator Johanna Zablocki stood beside her car, carefully unloading plants she had brought from home to make her new classroom feel warm and welcoming. She was excited and hopeful, thinking about the students whom she would soon be getting to know in her ninth-grade English courses.
Then a car pulled up nearby. A community member leaned out and, without hesitation, said, “You guys are going to fail.”
When Johanna asked why, the response was blunt. He didn’t believe the school could serve all students — especially students of color or from lower-income families.
In that moment, Johanna made a quiet promise to herself to prove him wrong. That commitment continues to drive her work today, and shapes Northfield’s mission to show that every learner can thrive when given the tools to succeed.
Prestige Through Access and Achievement
Northfield is redefining what “prestigious” means in public education. As the only comprehensive high school in Colorado, and one of the few nationwide, where every student takes International Baccalaureate (IB) Language and High Level Literature, Northfield proves that rigor and equity can coexist.
“IB is typically seen as a program for wealthy, less diverse populations,” Johanna explained. “The fact that we’ve been successful since we opened, with students from all walks of life achieving an 85% IB pass rate, means we’re competitive globally. That’s pretty prestigious.”
For fellow educator Nathania Cortes, prestige isn’t about exclusivity; it’s about opportunity.
“All students take the same English course in grades 9 and 10 to build the skills needed for IB. There’s no opting out. Students realize, ‘I’m in this, and I have to do my best,’” Nathania said.
Student working during English class
IB for All: Equity in Action
Northfield’s “IB for all” model is rare and intentional. Teachers design their own curriculum to make it engaging, diverse and accessible.
“We want students to see themselves and others in what they read,” Johanna said. “At the same time, we push them to think critically and prepare for IB from day one.”
Choice and voice are central in the classroom.
“In 12th grade, students choose their own texts and lead literature circles,” Nathania shared. “They explore what interests them and learn to navigate their own questions. Across all grades, we ask, ‘What do you see in this text, and how does it connect to the world?’”
Johanna working with a student in English class
Support Systems That Work
Balancing rigor with equity requires more than good intentions; it takes structure and thoughtful consideration. Northfield prioritizes co-teaching, especially in English classes.
“We share planning time, which isn’t common,” Johanna explained. “Our classes include multilingual learners and students with disabilities, so we design scaffolds and intentional groupings to meet every need.”
Nathania added, “In our classrooms, you can’t tell who the teacher is. We switch roles, divide groups and check in constantly. It’s about making sure every student feels supported.”
Nathania sharing a laugh with a student
Proof in the Journey
The results speak volumes. Graduates leave Northfield prepared for college, career and life. Johanna recalls a student from the school’s first graduating class.
“He faced incredible hardships but passed his IB exams, graduated and is now in a graduate program. Today, he leads a program supporting students of color and teaches AP History,” Johanna said. “Anytime a student comes back and says, ‘Thank you, I passed my IB exams, and I didn’t have to pay for freshman composition classes,’ — that’s success.”
For Nathania, growth is visible every day.
“Seeing students who were shy freshmen transform into confident seniors who advocate for themselves, that’s powerful. Over the four years, their interests develop. Some dive deep into global politics, others into math. I know they’ll lead this country in a decade, and I have complete faith in what they’ll accomplish,” Nathania said.
Johanna and a student
Promise in Action
Northfield students earn every recognition they receive. “They don’t take shortcuts,” Nathania said. “They put in the time, energy and passion.”
Johanna agreed, “Our students work hard. They’re curious, critical thinkers and good citizens. That’s why I teach: to nurture that.”
In a world that isn’t always kind to teenagers, Northfield proves that excellence begins with access and opportunity.
“When a student is willing to try, to take small steps forward, that makes me proud,” Johanna reflected. “Those small steps lead to bigger success.”
Johanna Zablocki and Nathania Cortes, English teachers at Northfield High School
With more than 525 students per grade level, Northfield’s commitment to IB for all ensures that every student — regardless of race, language, or economic background — has access to a college-preparatory curriculum. Through intentional alignment, co-teaching and a belief in every student’s potential, Johanna and Nathania are showing what’s possible when equity meets rigor.