Student Spotlight - Skylar

How long have you been at Two Rivers? When did you start? 

Eight years ago, starting in preschool.

What do you like about school this year?

I like the work we get. We learn about human rights. [Also,] decimals and fractions. 

What kind of work are you doing in human rights?

We read this book called Astronauts Rising, and they weren't getting treated fairly, so we were talking about how people should have the same rights as others. We would read a few pages of the book, then explain what happened and get feedback from each other and teachers.

I wanted to know more about your Student Ambassador experience last year. Why did you apply to become one again this year? 

I felt like I would be a good role model for the students who want to become a Student Ambassador. I thought it would be fun to lead tours because I've been here for a long time and know what happens. 

When you meet with visitors or families thinking about joining Two Rivers, what experiences do you share with them? 

That their kids will love the school because we have fun expeditions, book fairs, PE, and specials. It will be fun for the kids to come here.

We spend a lot of time with Scholarly Habits. Is there one that you really like? One that really speaks to you? 

"I act with integrity." For example, if you go to the bathroom, you shouldn't play in the bathroom. You can just do what you need to do. And if the teacher turns their back and you're doing stuff, they will no longer trust you because you were doing things you weren’t supposed to do. That then impacts the community.

What plans do you have beyond fifth grade? 

To go to college and get my degree. I want to be a nurse and a realtor, but I don't know. It could change. I just really enjoy helping people.

Staff Spotlight - Asia Bell

When did you join the Two Rivers community? What attracted you to it?

I joined Two Rivers in March of 2022. Prior to this, I was uncertain about the next chapter of my journey in the field of education. However, one non-negotiable for me was finding a workplace that felt like family. The strong sense of community was a crucial criterion. Then, I learned of an opening for the Registrar position at TR. Witnessing my mother proudly serving as a TR parent for nearly six years and seeing the positive impact of this community permeate through my sister has been truly inspiring. This wasn't just a coincidence; it was an opportunity I needed to pursue.

You are the Two Rivers Registrar. Folks might not be familiar with that title. Can you please explain what your role entails? What brings you joy about it?

As the TR Registrar, I wear many hats, but my primary focus lies in the realm of Student Enrollment—I consider it my specialty! I oversee our enrollment processes and systems, ensuring a smooth journey for families interested in joining the TR community. Beyond interacting with prospective families, I also provide essential documents and information to support our current families in various aspects of their students' journeys. I have a genuine passion for helping others, acknowledging that I may not be able to do it all. Nonetheless, having the opportunity to assist and contribute to the community brings me so much joy in my role.

How can we help you grow our community?

I'm eager to learn more about the experiences of our families and students—the most vital stakeholders in our community. There are many powerful stories that deserve to be highlighted. Incorporating current families into prospective family events such as open houses creates a uniquely authentic experience. My goal is for those who are not yet part of our community to feel at home when they step into our buildings, recognizing Two Rivers as a place where family and student experiences take center stage, and see for themselves how we value family presence!

Share a fun fact about yourself.

I am a huge Beyonce' fan and no day is complete until I listen to her most recent album. Lol!

Teacher Spotlight - Francine Perry

You came to Two Rivers through an aftercare program. What led you to joining the TR team? How long ago was that? 

When I first came to Two Rivers, I was helping out with a former aftercare company. I quickly became attached to the community and enjoyed the work I did with the students. Shortly after that, I gained attention from the current principal and was asked to be a substitute at the school. Once admin realized the patience I had with some of our most diverse learners, I was asked to be a dedicated aide for a student in Pre-K. That was over 10 years ago and that student is now a senior in high school!

You are also a TR parent. Yay! When did Morgan join and where she is now?

Morgan joined Two Rivers in Preschool in 2016. She is now a dynamic 5th grader.

Can you tell us about your teaching philosophy? You have a teaching degree and a master's in counseling. How do you use both these fields in your classroom work?

My philosophy is that all students deserve to feel safe, supported, seen, and empowered. I make it a point to connect with all of my students on a personal level. My degree in Mental Health Counseling really helps me to look at each student as a whole person, to identify things that bring them joy, but also things that may cause them stress. It really allows me to look at their abilities and to help problem solve things that may be hindering them. It really helps me to build their confidence and to help them to create a positive narrative of who they are as a learner.

What are your hopes and dreams for your students?

My hope and dreams for all of my students are to be able to identify one thing that they feel confident about academically by the end of the year and to have the ability to advocate for the tools they need to be successful in the academic setting.

Anything else that you want to share?

I thoroughly enjoy the work that I do with students. I love to be a part of the moment when things "click" for them. It makes all of the challenging days that we face seem not so bad.

Family Spotlight - Rose Walton

When did you join the Two Rivers community? What attracted you to it? What do you remember from those early years?

We joined the TR community when our daughter started in Pre-K 4, the first year Young campus opened in 2015. We fell in love the community and staff immediately. We all bonded because we were all new and it was exciting to be part of a new campus, knowing that 4th St. was a great school. In the early days, I remember being so amazed at Showcase and seeing 4-year-olds (and later 3-years-olds, when our sons started) standing up in front of everyone saying their lines and presenting what they learned. I have such fond memories of the vocabulary fashion show, PB & J competition, the children dressing up for Black History Month, and the Latin-dance competition.

Congratulations, you are the secretary of the Family School Association at the middle school! Can you talk about your involvement with the school over the years and what led you to this position?

I have volunteered to be a room parent for all three of my children’s crews every year because I think it is important to help support teachers and ensure that they have what they need to have a successful year. I have also been a part of the FSA (formerly PSA) and took the lead in planning Staff Appreciation Week at Young for several years. I also helped with the Gala through the years. This year, I wanted to be more involved at the middle school because I wanted to work on building community. Middle School is challenging on many levels, and I wanted to do something to help bring students and their families together, to help them feel more connected to the school and community.

You have children at the middle school and Young. What have you learned about the Two Rivers model from observing your children that surprised you? What about Two Rivers is incredibly special?

Starting from when our children were three and four, the emphasis on social/emotional learning has been so important in teaching my children how to identify their feelings, express themselves and learn how to build positive relationships. These skills have helped our children to be independent and confident in themselves. Being at a school where they feel safe and supported has helped them thrive and we have built lifelong friendships through the Two Rivers community.

Tell us about life outside of TR. What kind of work do you? 

This is my 11th year working as a school social worker for Fairfax County Public School. Prior to that I worked in child welfare for over 10 years. In my free time, I love trying new restaurants and traveling.

How can folks get involved with Two Rivers? What if they don't have a lot of time?  

There are many ways to get involved at TR, including volunteering to help on field studies or school events. Even just helping for 30 minutes to sell pizza during Celebration of Learning nights is a huge help! Reach out to the FSA if you have you have any ideas/suggestions/questions on how you can help. We would love to hear from you!

Alum Spotlight - Rainah Taylor

Were you a TR lifer? Do you have any fond memories of those early days?

Yes, I am a TR lifer. I went to Two Rivers from Pre-K up to the 8th grade. My fondest memory was of the very first role I ever played in my Pre-K showcase. We were studying the life cycle of chickens for an expedition, and I played the chicken yolk. That was the beginning of my love for acting and performing, starting at Two Rivers.

We tell students that the quality of your character and your work is what matters now and years from now. How did you develop as a human being at Two Rivers? Who helped you along the way?

Going to Two Rivers taught me everything I needed to know about empathy and kindness. The school did a great job introducing me to other cultures and types of people/thinking at a young age. Being at Two Rivers taught me how to love and appreciate all cultures and all walks of life before the world could teach me to hate those different from me. Who helped me along the way? Every teacher and administrator I had encountered in my 10 years at Two Rivers. The staff at Two Rivers became my second set of parents. I remember when I was in the 8th grade, I had just gotten braces, and I was having a pretty bad allergic reaction to them while I was getting adjusted. My PE teacher, Mr. Tarik, and my guidance counselor, Ms. Keisha, noticed how my face reacted to my new braces. I remember I was pulled out of class and called to Ms. Keisha's office. When I got to her office, they told me to dial my mom's number, and I thought I was in trouble for something. To my shock, Mr. Tarik grabbed the phone and told my mom he'd noticed I had been allergic to the braces. He gave her remedies and suggested I switch my braces from metal to ceramic. That moment always stuck with me because they didn't have to do that. Mr. Tarik and Ms. Keisha didn't have to take time out of their busy workdays to call my mom and help her treat my allergy, but they did because they cared.

What about high-quality work - are there expedition or art products (including performance) about which you are incredibly proud, even after so many years?  

My third grade showcase- The Next Great Rock Band. We spent that semester studying rocks, and our final product was a musical about the three types of rocks (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic, I'll never forget). That is one of the expeditions I remember the most. I still remember what type of rock I was and all the words to the sedimentary rock song.

After TR, you attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts. What kind of community did you find there? How did you spend your time and energy?

I was lucky enough to be surrounded by the most talented people on the planet for four years. I was finally in an environment with people who were just as creative as me, and it opened up much room for me to discover myself as an artist and a person. Going to Ellington forced me to discover who I am and what I stand for in art and life. I didn't understand the concept of "chosen family" until I got to Ellington. Yes, I met my best friends there by chance; we all ended up at the same school but chose to become a family. I carry Ellington with me everywhere I go. I spent my time and energy creating, which is all I want to do. When I think about my four years at Ellington, my only two words are "magic" and "love." That building and that community were and always will be filled with magic and love, and I'm so honored that I got to be a part of it.

What was your proudest moment at Duke?

Graduating was a proud moment because those 4 years were NOT easy. But my proudest moment of all four years has to be when I presented my senior project. Senior projects are a huge deal in the theatre department. They're 10-minute pieces that you have to write and direct all by yourself. It's your last bow as a senior. Doing my senior project was the first time in my artistic and personal life that I had to stand on my own two feet and create something from the ground up by myself. It was horrifying, but Ellington and Two Rivers gave me the tools I needed to create a piece of work that I'm really proud of. My senior project was also the first time anyone told me that my art healed something in them. People came up to me after I was done and told me that when watching my piece, they felt seen, heard, and not alone, and that's all I've ever wanted my work to do.

Now, you are at the New School. Congratulations! Could you tell us how you chose this college and what you are studying? How has the transition to New York been?

I'm at the New School studying Acting. I chose TNS because of its approach to acting. They view acting and art as a whole, as a political movement that has the power to change and heal, and that is what I want my art to do. The transition to New York honestly wasn't that hard. I grew up in a major city and was comfortable with busy streets and public transportation. I thrive around people and other creatives, so moving to New York made the most sense.

What advice would you have for your middle school self? Your high school self? 

I would tell my middle and high school self the same thing: trust the process. You're going to be fine. Everything always works out exactly as it should.

Board Member Spotlight - Jessica Proffitt

What attracted you to the Two Rivers community? What did you learn as a teacher here?

In 2010, I was teaching at another school in DC, and Ms. Rossana had recently started working at TR. She said I would be so impressed with culture at TR and begged me to come for a visit. I was so in awe at how joyful kids and teachers were when I visited that I immediately applied to be a teacher.

[Over the years] I learned more than I could put into words. We were just starting to really document our expedition planning and were diving deep into math problem based tasks. I learned so much from getting to visit classrooms and analyze data with my colleagues. I also learned how traditions help shape a community. Community meetings and the Jamestown field study were some of my favorite TR traditions.

Congratulations on joining the Board in July and thanks for your service! What attracted you to the role?

I have always remained connected to TR through supporting new teachers or working with the [Board's] Academic Excellence Committee. This opportunity felt like a great chance to deepen my impact and learn more about how a board can best support the tradition and growth of an amazing school.

In school year 23-24, we began a year-long celebration that culminates with a commemoration of our 20th anniversary in fall 2024. What should folks know about TR that they might not already know?

TR is special because of the people and the unique approach to learning. After visiting hundreds of schools and classrooms in my career, I have never seen the joy and rigor of expeditionary learning as palpable as when I have been in classrooms at TR. The adults deeply care and learning is central.

Tell us about your day job. What kind of work do you? 

I am a Director of Academics at TNTP. In this role I support states, districts, and schools with the policy and academic support needed to best serve their students. Most of my work right now centers around ensuring students have access to strong, appropriately challenging instruction and excellent teachers.

Share a fun fact about yourself.

My first son was born when I was a teacher at TR, where he often heard Somos El Barco sung during class and community meetings. It became our go-to soothing song for him as a baby and is now our nightly bedtime song. All three of my boys know the words and [accompanying] sign language and love singing the song.

Thanks, Capitol Hill Community Foundation, for investing in education and literacy!

We are grateful and thrilled to announce that the Capitol Hill Community Foundation awarded our Two Rivers community with a generous grant of $2,500!

This funding will fuel our Book of the Month initiative in our elementary schools, which helps crews talk about the protagonists' grapple with Scholarly Habits .

Ms. Brenda’s Day of Service a success!

Across the network, over 1,200 students, families, and staff made:

• 233 cards for those in assisted living residents
• 756 bags of trail mix for Martha’s Table and N Street Village
• 660 sandwiches for Martha’s Table

That's 1,649 people touched in our DC community by our TR community! And, all in one day, as one network.

Check out our Instagram reel for more pictures. 

Congratulations, Two Rivers Soccer Champions!

Our TR Middle School soccer team won their final game 5-2 against Paul PCS on Audi Field - not bad for our first year playing soccer! The team worked hard this season, displaying resilience and sportsmanship at every practice and game. Shout out to Coach Ralph, a teacher leader at Young, and huge congrats to the middle school soccer team! GO SHARKS!

Kudos to our teachers for presenting on foundational literacy skills at the NAEYC National Conference!

At the National Association for Education of Young Children National Conference, Ms. Sherrie, Ms. Shawn, Ms. Talia, and Ms. Molly shared how TR launched a structured language and literacy program in early childhood and our successes. Educators from across the country enjoyed learning about our Skills Block implementation practices to ensure every student enters kindergarten ready to read.