Knowing Our Why: Building Identity-Driven Classrooms at BCS

Elika Fredrickson

Chief of Academics & Educ. Services

@ BCS since 2022

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At Bullis Charter School, we believe that great learning begins with purpose, and purpose begins with knowing your “why.”

When I joined BCS, I was immediately struck by the incredible passion of our educators. It’s clear that this is a place where people care deeply, not just about academic excellence, but about the children they serve. As I’ve gotten to know our incredible staff, I’ve asked a simple question: What brought you here? The answers are always powerful. 

Some have shared that they were drawn to the school’s commitment to innovation and project-based learning. Others have talked about the joy they feel working in a community that values whole-child development and collaboration across grade levels. Many have said they love being part of a team that isn’t afraid to grow, reflect, and center equity in their daily work.

Teaching, after all, is more than a profession. It’s a calling. But knowing our own “why” is only the beginning.

As an educator and leader, I bring my own “why” to this work. I was raised in Puerto Rico, speak Spanish fluently, and come from a richly international background that has deeply shaped my worldview. My lived experience deeply connects me to our BCS focus on creating Global Citizens, where we strive to nurture learners who are empathetic, culturally aware, and engaged with the world around them. 

My journey from classroom teacher to systems coach to school leader, working on both the East and West coasts has always been grounded in equity, joy, curiosity, and community. I believe in the power of public charter education to be innovative, inclusive, and future-focused.

Our Learners' Why

We also have to understand our learners’ “why.”

Even though school is a shared experience for all students, their sense of purpose and belonging must be individually cultivated. That’s where identity-driven teaching comes in. Each of our learners walks into the classroom with a rich story, cultural background, language, family traditions, lived experiences, and dreams for the future. 

As educators, it’s our job to create classrooms where students see themselves reflected in the learning and feel empowered to shape their own path forward.

As educator Zaretta Hammond writes, “In culturally responsive teaching, relationships are as important as the curriculum.” Author Cornelius Minor expands on this in We Got This, explaining, “Understanding or knowing our students is not something we achieve. It is something that we live. Continually.”

At BCS, we see this work in action every day. It’s in the simple acts of conversation during recess and lunch. It’s in morning meetings and advisory circles where learners reflect on who they are and who they’re becoming. And it’s in the project-based learning units rooted in real-world relevance and personal connection.

Our Teaching Is Intentional

This kind of intentional teaching builds bridges between classroom learning and students’ lives outside of school. It ensures that we’re not only preparing learners for academic success, but also supporting the development of self-awareness, empathy, and agency.

And I believe that every child deserves to be known, challenged, and celebrated.

At BCS, we are educating  students for the future by starting with who they are right now. We are shaping confident, compassionate learners who will lead with integrity in a complex and changing world.

As we move forward into our 3rd decade we will continue to listen to our learners, elevate their voices, and design learning that honors their identities.

Because knowing our “why” isn’t just the foundation of great teaching. It’s the heart of a truly transformative education.

In partnership, 

Elika Fredrickson

Chief of Academics and Educational Services

Bullis Charter School

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How to enroll at Bullis Charter School

Family-founded, free, and public Bullis Charter School serves a richly diverse community of learners. Our TK-8th grade program is intentionally designed to offer a meaningful and challenging educational experience that recognizes each child’s uniqueness. BCS is open to students in California entering Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 8th grade.

Email our enrollment team at enroll@bullischarterschool.com for more information.