In the halls of Joe Shoemaker School, kindergarten teachers and instructional coaches Annie Holyfield and Donnie Staggs are redefining what it means to be a teacher by proving that passion and magic are some of the most essential tools in a classroom. For these DPS educators, being passionate isn't just a job requirement.
“Passion is about showing up as our authentic selves and pouring that authenticity into everything that we do,” Annie said.
The philosophy driving their classroom is simple: learning should be fun! Annie and Donnie focus on filling every day with joy and engagement, moving away from traditional methods that risk turning students into "little robots". Instead, they strive to create unique, magical experiences where learning is seamlessly integrated into every activity. They want students to become passionate learners in the same way they are passionate educators.
The results of this magical approach are life-changing for both students and parents. Kathrine Grove, parent of a Shoemaker student and counselor at McAuliffe International School, shared that her daughter, who was initially nervous about starting kindergarten, became passionate about learning after starting at Shoemaker.
“Her classroom felt like a unique, magical, fun, and exciting experience!” Katherine said. “Miss Annie and Miss Donnie went out of their way to ensure both parents and students were looked after and ensured that students were in their classrooms to not only understand, but love what they are learning.”
Current Shoemaker fifth grader Liviana Loehfelm said, “Miss Annie and Miss Donnie are magical because of their constant positive attitudes and their ability to make everyone laugh!”
Whether students were a part of Annie and Donnie’s classroom their kindergarten year, or a part of the many clubs they facilitate, every student has had a chance to experience the magic that is Annie and Donnie.
Parents at Shoemaker feel blessed by educators who are dedicated to teaching children everything they need to be successful adults, “far beyond just reading, writing and arithmetic.”
“At its core, this approach is about empowerment,” said Annie. Annie and Donnie want their students to understand that no matter their background, their hard work, effort and passion can achieve anything. By making the “impossibilities possible,” they are teaching their students that through dedication, nothing is out of reach.
For the community at Shoemaker, lovingly referred to as the “Shoe Crew”, the magic lies in the belief that when kids see that learning can be fun and transformational, they gain the power to change their own lives and grow their immense potential.
Annie and Donnie and their kindergarten class