Teachers like Taylor Roholt embody what it means to create meaningful, engaging and high-quality learning experiences for students. With over 10 years in education, Mr. Roholt has realized not every student thrives in a traditional classroom.
“I teach in a very inclusive and accessible way,” he emphasized. “My class is all about communication, interaction, and most importantly – everybody is successful in my class. It doesn’t matter what your background is or what language you speak.”
That approach is felt by his students. Gael, a native Spanish speaker, is encouraged to learn French as a third language, building on the similarities between the two.
“My favorite thing about French class is the environment that the teacher gives to us, I think it is really good to connect with the class,” Gael shared, calling it one of his favorite classes in the school.
Mr. Roholt also leads the French Club at John F. Kennedy High School (JFK), a place where students can engage in cultural activities, make crepes and learn about French culture.
He is even taking a group of students to France during Spring Break, including JFK French student and IB scholar Izzy Coble.
“I am the most excited to see the places we’ve learned about and talked about in French class,” Izzy said, eager to take her French experience outside of the classroom.
Providing opportunities for students to learn about French culture inside and outside the classroom creates an engaging, comprehensive learning environment. His impact is clear: JFK French 1 students showed the highest growth in the district, while French 3 and 4 students showed the second highest growth in the district.
With a focus on communication, interaction, and fun — rather than homework, worksheets, or grammar — Mr. Roholt is redefining what it means to learn a language.