Seventh-grade math teacher Pam Ziemlewicz knows that multiplying fractions and calculating percentages are not the only problems middle school students face. As students find their identity and navigate “the weirdness” that comes with adolescence, Ziemlewicz helps them grow not only academically, but emotionally and socially at Toki Middle School.
“We spend the first week of school doing social-emotional learning and getting to know the people in this space,” Ziemlewicz said. “It’s impossible to learn if you don’t feel safe in the environment that you’re in.”
After navigating a bustling hallway during passing periods, students walking into Ziemlewicz’s classroom are met with dimmed lights aside tapestries of seascapes, the steady hum of a fan and a faint ticking of a timer for students taking turns at the portable massage chair.
While Ziemlewicz is rarely seated at her desk – opting to walk through the rows of tables to work with students instead – a shelf just above it holds collections of tv show and movie figurines, dozens of Broadway albums and posters sharing the applicability of math in music. A homemade sign reads “it’s sus (suspicious) when you don’t show your work.”
Every class begins with a "do now" activity, an approachable math puzzle or game designed to include every student, regardless of their skill level.
“Now, I do encourage participation by giving stickers or candy,” Ziemlewicz laughed, adding that the “do now” activity is a method to encourage students to connect from the start, which usually carries into the rest of class. “I want to hear all those voices in the classroom, and open every class with a reminder that this is a safe space where you can talk.”
Ziemlewicz creates such a welcoming environment that she’s routinely visited by former students. Eighth-grade student Asha Milinovich popped into Ziemlewicz’s classroom to give her a hug between classes.
“She was really nice and it was easy to talk to her about stuff,” Milinovich said. “She would always be open and communicating. She was a very good teacher and I loved being in her class.”
Building relationships with students starts with her own actions, Ziemlewicz said.
“Students are going to mirror your energy. And if your energy is like, ‘this is boring and I don't want to teach it, and you're never going to use it,’ then you're going to get that back from them,” she said. “However, if you can be excited about the content, then they get excited about the content.”
Seventh-grade student Amaya Abner said Ziemlewicz’s deep excitement about math makes her feel like she really cares about her success.
"I like her energy because it helps me feel more confident to share, even if I get the answer wrong,” Abner said.
Ziemlewicz extends that energy and connection beyond math class and into her role as co-adviser of Toki’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club at Toki. Through her commitment to creating a safe, engaging and inclusive environment, she continues to leave a lasting impact on every student who walks through her door.
Did you know you play a vital role in supporting our students to succeed and help staff thrive? This fall, MMSD is asking taxpayers to approve two referendum questions. The proposed operational referendum, totaling $100 million over four years, would help teachers like Ziemlewicz continue to inspire and educate students. It enables MMSD to offer competitive salaries and benefits, including tackling the escalating costs of healthcare premiums that have outpaced standard increases, so teachers and students can not just sustain, but thrive.