A Conversation With Todd Wolov

A Conversation With

Todd Wolov

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.

What brings you joy about teaching Grade 5?

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.

What is your teaching philosophy, and what do you hope your students gain in your classroom?

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.

A Little About Todd Wolov

Favorite Food: Pizza

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.”

How does the mission of Holy Child influence your role as a teacher?

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.

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.

Service-Learning

Guided by Compassion and Faith

Woven into the fabric of our curriculum are opportunities for service-learning projects that connect us to our Holy Child Goals, especially goals 4 and 5, which are centered on justice, compassion, and respect for the individual. Our school’s dedicated Service-Learning Committee, composed of faculty and staff, makes intentional choices about causes and charities to support, often with input from Middle School students. Through handson activities such as leading workshops on “Identity and Loving Yourself,” hosting a lemonade stand fundraiser, and assembling care packages of winter clothing and personal hygiene products, all students learn about the social impact of their time and contributions to the communities that they serve. Accompanying many of these donations are messages of love, support, and hope written by our students. Each service-learning project offers lessons about challenges that people face in our local, regional, and global communities, and underscores the connection between our faith and the importance of serving others.