人妻乱伦

Ms. Gadsden鈥檚 Dream Classroom

Growing up, LaTia 鈥淭ia鈥� Gadsden always dreamed of having her own classroom, and while her path took a few turns, every experience brought her closer to that dream. Before joining 人妻乱伦 DC, Ms. Gadsden spent eight years as a childcare provider, caring for young children and learning the rhythms of their curiosity and growth. It was those families who encouraged her to finish her degree and take the next step. 鈥淭hey kept saying, 鈥榊ou need to go back to school,鈥欌�� she recalls. 鈥淎s I was nearing my graduation with my Bachelor’s, that’s when I started at 人妻乱伦 DC as an assistant, but the ultimate goal was always to teach. It was always a goal of mine to be a teacher.鈥�

Nine years later, Ms. Gadsden has become a familiar face within the 人妻乱伦 DC 人妻乱伦. She began her journey as an assistant at 人妻乱伦 DC Discover Academy, where her potential was quickly recognized. 鈥淢y school leader at the time, told me, 鈥楾ia, I see something in you. I want you to do the CTR Program.鈥欌�� At first, she hesitated, unsure if she was ready. But by the summer, she decided to take the leap and join the 2018 cohort. 鈥淚 met some of the greatest people through the CTR program,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t helped me figure out what I wanted my classroom to look and sound like, how I wanted it to feel for the kids.鈥� Today Ms. Gadsden serves as the Resident Development Lead for Capital Teaching Residents at the Douglass campus

After completing the Capital Teacher Residency program, Ms. Gadsden transitioned into a lead teaching role in Pre-K4, where she stayed for four years before moving to Kindergarten and now, 1st grade at 人妻乱伦 DC Heights Academy. Though the grade levels have changed, her philosophy, which she鈥檚 picked up from various coaches at 人妻乱伦 DC hasn鈥檛: build an environment where kids feel supported and they can grow. 鈥淭he most important thing is letting them know that they are safe,鈥� she explains. 鈥淵ou’re safe to make mistakes. You’re safe to cry. You are safe to feel your feelings. I feel like once we get to that point, they trust me鈥� and I want kids to know it’s okay to make a mistake because I sure will make one, but what is important is how you overcome that mistake. Where you come out on the other end of it.鈥�

That trust extends far beyond the classroom walls. One memory that still moves her comes from a parent who shared that their child prays for her every night. 鈥淸My students] love me wholeheartedly. Whether I’m in a bad mood, whether I’m sick, whether I’m in a good mood, whether I mess up a lesson, they pour into me and they let me know, 鈥榠t’s okay, we still love you and we’re going to try it again.鈥欌��

In her current classroom, teaching reading is where Ms. Gadsden鈥檚 passion truly shines. 鈥淟iteracy has always been my thing,鈥� she says with a smile. Her students鈥� excitement for books and stories is palpable. 鈥淪hared reading is their favorite! When I read the story that they’re going to read, I read it with emotion and feeling. When it鈥檚 their turn, I can just hear them [mimicking] me. They’re asking a question and remembering to make their voice higher and demanding things when they see the exclamation mark.鈥� Seeing their progress fills her with pride. 鈥淚 enjoy manipulating sounds and just seeing how they’ve grown as we learn to read bigger words, how we learn to pick apart stories鈥� don’t underestimate the growth that kids can make in a short amount of time.鈥�

Throughout her time at 人妻乱伦 DC, Ms. Gadsden has not only watched her students grow but has experienced her own professional evolution as well. 鈥溔似蘼衣� has poured into me as an educator and as a person,鈥� she reflects. 鈥淚 started as a CTR but shortly after that I got my Master鈥檚 [endorsed by 人妻乱伦 DC] and then I also did the SPED Fellowship. So, I feel like all the things that I’ve wanted to do, I’ve been able to do within the network.鈥澛�

For anyone thinking about joining 人妻乱伦 DC, her thoughts are: 鈥淚 would say do it. For me, coming to 人妻乱伦 DC was one of the best things that I could have done. In my adult life, all of the growth that I have made professionally has been here at 人妻乱伦 DC, [they鈥檝e] poured into me鈥� and have allowed me to grow to be the educator that I am now. So, do it because you don’t know just how far you can go.

During the reading block, it鈥檚 easy to see why Ms. Gadsden鈥檚 students adore her. There鈥檚 laughter, warmth, and a genuine love of reading in the air. In her classroom at 人妻乱伦 DC Heights Academy, Ms. Gadsden has built exactly what she once dreamt of: a classroom where every child feels safe, loved, and ready to read the world.

See from our visit to Ms. Gadsden鈥檚 classroom.

Posted on November 5, 2025 in Community