With her vibrant and lofty zeal proudly flaunted to anybody she crosses paths with, her positive disposition is also reflected greatly in her classroom decorations. Nicki Felmus is a Social Studies teacher who teaches Principles of US Government and DC History, in her second year at Jackson-Reed. Her class is full of posters, neatly stacked books, and school supplies that brighten your eyes with amazement (and maybe also a little bit of envy).
When you first enter Felmus’ class, you would immediately notice how hospitable and cozy the space feels, inviting you to be immersed in the room’s tranquility. “I want to walk into my room every morning and have it feel happy. I want it to represent me, the students, and what they will be learning in my class. Sometimes school can be a dreary place, so I want my classroom to be a bright spot in people’s day,” Felmus emphasizes.
Most of the room’s aesthetic is maximalist, meaning of extravagance and grandeur. Her design aim is simple: no “brutalist” themes of any kind and the space must feel inclusive. Though her classroom is not fully reflective of her home decor, her passion for teaching politics shines through. “I want this classroom and my other ones to be like a gallery wall, since plain walls are quite boring to me. I hope that when my students are daydreaming in my class and staring at a wall, they will have something interesting to look at,” she said. With posters hanging around, it is indeed a hallway of art inside a classroom. Besides that, there is also a Student Work corner, pining tall and proud right next to Felmus’ desk.
“The things that bring me the most joy are the student’s projects I have hanging up. For example, at my old school, students made their own campaign posters and looking at them always makes me happy,” Felmus reminisced.
Posters upon her walls hail from many places, all which resonate within Felmus’s memories. “One summer, I was in Seattle and stumbled upon an Asian Heritage festival. I got free posters from a Seattle based artist [and] I have those up around my room,” she explained.
Besides showing her dedication to politics and history, her identity as a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community is just as important. “I [have] a pride flag hanging on the board from the SGA pride flag collection [and] a “New Pride” poster from [the annual] H Street Festival. As a queer person, being able to be “out” is really what I am thankful and grateful for. It also adds to the joy and color of this classroom,“ she said.
She hopes that with the intimacy of her classroom decor, everyone will feel safe and assured as they step inside. “People have always commented on how colorful my classroom is.”
Besides the captivating posters and vivid spaces, one decoration tends to catch the eyes of all who walk in. “People especially love to talk about the life-size replica of my dog Peppermint sitting on my desk. At first, people assumed that it was taxidermy, but as time went on, everyone came to appreciate Peppermint 2.0,” Felmus jokes.
As the school year continues, Felmus plans to elevate her room’s decorations with more string lights, though she comments that might need some help with the procedure. New posters are rolling in and the Students’ Work Corner is to be updated with more amazing projects to come.
Besides putting in a lot of effort to keep up the vibe of B306, she has also uplifted B106 with her unique touch of interior design. Take a peek at Felmus’ eclectic decor in its most complete form before Christmas!
