When it comes to the Jackson-Reed community, we are lucky to have both new and old teachers from a variety of backgrounds who sat in the very same seats as students and decided to return as staff.
Fatima Melendez, a student at Jackson-Reed from 2010 to 2014, returned to the school to teach Algebra II in 2023 and now teaches AP Precalculus. Originally from El Salvador, Melendez came to DC in 2000 at the age of four, where she attended Amidon (now Amadon-Bowen) Elementary School for one year, followed by Oyster-Adams, then JR (formerly Wilson). During her time at JR, Melendez focused on her studies, and also played ultimate frisbee during her senior year. Following her time at JR, she attended University of the District of Columbia (UDC) for her undergraduate education, before student teaching at Eastern High School. Since returning to JR as a staff member, Melendez has enjoyed teacher perks like finally being able to use the elevator. In her first week as a teacher, she was recognized left and right by people she forgot she knew from her school days. Melendez now enjoys teaching alongside her former teachers, like social studies teacher Robert Geremia.
“It’s funny,” Geremia stated. “Most of them still call me Mr. Geremia, but some of them will call me by my first name which was funny to get used to for a second.” Geremia calls teaching alongside his former students a “pleasure,” as he witnesses them giving back to the community.
JR alumna Kristina Johnson returned to the school to serve as the assistant varsity volleyball coach before taking her position as the 10th grade dean. A DC native, Johnson attended Hardy Middle School, followed by her time at JR. Johnson emphasizes the evident differences she sees between the then-Wilson and now Jackson-Reed, noting how “Wilson knew how to have fun.” Johnson sees these differences as a result of the changes regarding technology in our generation from hers. She explained how while the modern focus on technology in our generation may be fun, it does seem to set us aside into “our own zone” as we are less aware of what’s going on around us. During her time as a student, Johnson enjoyed the three-plus dances which occurred each year, alongside a more spirited football team fan section, something our school currently lacks. Johnson now appreciates getting to work alongside her former teachers Belle Belew and Eric McMillan.
Chris Rickard is a current Algebra II and AP Precalculus teacher at Jackson-Reed, but he used to walk the hallways as a student. Born in DC, Rickard attended Lafayette Elementary School, Alice Deal Middle School, and then JR from 2007-2011. Rickard described his time as a student at JR as being positively chaotic. Students learned how to fend for themselves, pushing them to mature, which he enjoyed the freedom of. Rickard rowed as a member of the crew program and participated on the debate team. He then attended Tufts University, additionally enjoying a semester abroad in Jordan.
Post-graduation, Rickard returned to DC, where he had an internship on Capitol Hill and then a job doing political ads for a television advertising firm, all while coaching the Jackson-Reed crew team. “I realized I was having a lot more fun coaching than I was at my job, so I quit my job.” Rickard then spent one trial run year as the “book room clerk,” managing school textbooks, in addition to helping students at the College and Career Center with college essays. After confirming he liked working at Jackson-Reed, Rickard got his Master’s degree at UDC, and has now been a JR teacher for six years and the crew coach for ten years.
Rickard has enjoyed Jackson-Reed as both a student and a teacher, but he does believe the school would benefit from a cell phone ban. “I used to have to figure out how to get the class to be quiet; now if I do nothing, the class is quiet by default in kind of a depressing, super futuristic, anti-social way.”
As these Jackson-Reed teachers have the opportunity to reflect on their time at the school, we can consider how modern technologies and advancements have shaped not only the world in general, but the school environment. Throughout these teachers’ experiences, the connection between teachers and students is evident. The lessons learned are timeless, as past and present occurrences bond our school community.
