Around School
Little About A Todd Wolov Favorite Food: Pizza
A Conversation With
Todd Wolov
Hobbies: Exercising, studying jiujitsu and Krav Maga, watching the Eagles and 76ers games. Fun Fact: His best friend is a 145-pound English mastiff named Dempsey. Bucket List: He would like to earn his black belt in Brazilian jiujitsu—typically a 10–15-year journey! Favorite Cornelia Connelly Quote: “We never know what we can do until we try. Perseverance gains the crown.”
What brings you joy about teaching Grade 5?
How does the mission of Holy Child influence your role as a teacher?
I enjoy the dichotomy between youth and maturity in Grade 5 students because they’re young enough to joke around with—meaning, they laugh at my corny jokes—and they’re old enough to have in-depth conversations. They are the youngest students in our Middle School, and I love seeing them through the transition from Lower School to Middle School, especially where they get to by the end of their time at Holy Child. That progress, seeing the students from where they started to where they arrive, is rewarding for all teachers.
The student-centered mission of Holy Child schools is important to me, and we maintain this strong connection with the alumni and parent communities too. The prioritization of relationship-building goes a long way when it comes to being an effective teacher; Cornelia Connelly had it right in that regard. We focus on seeing the good and potential in every child, no matter the situation. While not always easy, this value is central to the school and our work.
What is your teaching philosophy, and what do you hope your students gain in your classroom? Todd Wolov is well-known on and off the field at Holy Child School at Rosemont: He has been a fifth-grade teacher with the school for a decade, and has spent nine seasons coaching athletes in our football and basketball programs. His role as a Middle School teacher has evolved over the years, as he has taught a range of subjects and grades and achieved the school’s highest teacher rank of Master Teacher. Celebrating his decade of service to Holy Child, Todd sat down to reflect on his experiences as both a teacher and coach.
I strive to immerse the children in literature as much as possible and, by doing so, expose them to different perspectives. Part of this includes reading to the students, which is something that I really enjoy doing in order to get them more excited about literature and reading independently. I read “Hatchet” and “Holes” aloud to every fifth-grade class. Introducing the students to new or difficult topics through literature allows them to walk in someone else’s shoes and experience different points of view. Then, I take it a step further by having them discuss literature. My philosophy is that they don’t have to agree, but they at least have to listen to each other. Ultimately, I want to foster their intellectual curiosity so that someday they will find something that they really want to study and pursue.
As a coach, what role do athletics play in the development of our student’s soft skills, such as sportsmanship and collaboration? Athletics contribute greatly to the formation of students’ soft skills and values. Sports and academics are cocurricular activities; they are not independent of one another. The topics we discuss in the classroom are often reflected in the real world and on the field. Sometimes you play with people or in conditions that you don’t like, and you have to handle those challenges in real time. Those moments can be difficult, but they serve as huge growth opportunities for Middle School students. I often feel like a teacher on the field and a coach in the classroom because these two experiences are so interconnected.
P13 | Holy Child School at Rosemont