“First and foremost, my students know I care about them,” says Erin Druelinger  Erin Druelinger, about her work teaching English language learners for the past five years. “I get to know each of them and what makes them tick.” Within her own classroom and as coach of Barnard’s DC Scores soccer team, she promotes students’ self-esteem. Last year, 80 percent of Ms. Druelinger’s students increased two or more grade levels in reading, while 90 percent were proficient in writing, speaking, and listening.

Ms. Druelinger’s philosophy is that school should be both challenging and fun. One memorable lesson was called “Said is Dead,” about retiring overused vocabulary. “Ms. Druelinger dressed in black, played the funeral march, and held a memorial ceremony for words that could no longer be used in the classroom because they weren’t rigorous enough for fifth grade,” her principal recalls. “The children were so engaged and talked about it for weeks.” Ms. Druelinger also provides enrichment through her fellowship with the Folger Shakespeare Theater. Giving up her free periods for several months, she worked with a teaching artist to prepare her students with period costumes, sword fights, and sets. This culminated in a student performance of Macbeth at the theater’s children’s festival and an encore for students and parents at Barnard. Afterwards, her young actors were hounded for autographs, and preschoolers asked whether Shakespeare had written any other stories that they could read. “I love the way kids can inspire you with their thoughtfulness and their courage,” Ms. Druelinger reflects. “But most of all I love when they leave me reading at grade level. This brings me the most joy because I know they are going to be okay.”