“People who end up as ‘first’ don’t actually set out to be first. They set out to do something they love.” - Condoleezza Rice The above quote epitomizes the young education pioneer Sophia D’Attilio, a Wauwatosa native, who is fulfilling her dream of teaching pre-K to 2nd grade. Sophia didn’t set out to be the first in all aspects of her learning journey, but that’s where her passions led her. Skipping eighth grade, Sophia became a member of the inaugural class of 86 students at Pathways High, a personalized, project-based charter high school authorized by UW-Milwaukee in 2017. Like many of her peers, she felt held back by the rigid curricular model and timelines of conventional high school and was excited to have her passions drive her learning in an environment that valued her unique strengths and goals. Her pioneering spirit was drawn to Pathways High’s rigorous, real-world learning experiences that pushed her critical thinking and broadened her perspectives. Prior to graduating from Pathways High in June 2021, Sophia was among the first high school students in the country to use the Mastery Transcript, a holistic transcript similar to a digital resume, in her college applications. Being a trailblazer is never easy, especially in college admissions, and she was nervous that colleges wouldn’t appreciate her gradeless transcript. In the end, she sent the mastery transcript to a dozen colleges because she said “it actually shows you who I am as a person.” In December 2020, Sophia received the outstanding news that she was accepted by her top choice, New York University! She was one of 4,593 of 17,451 early decision applicants admitted. NYU was impressed by her transcript and essay describing her passion for the early childhood education major. Since her days babysitting and teaching gymnastics at Tosa Rec, Sophia knew she wanted to teach young children. According to an interview conducted with NYU’s assistant vice president, Jonathan Williams for the October 20, 2021 Washington Post article, A Crusade to End Grading in High School, by Thomas Toch and Alina Tugend, ‘“The absence of a grade-point average wasn’t a problem," said Jonathan Williams, NYU’s assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions. By offering detailed descriptions of what D’Attilio learned in high school and concrete examples of her work, the mastery transcript provided ‘a deeper understanding of what kind of learner’ she was. ‘She presented an academic profile that shows that she’s smart and thoughtful and committed to learning,’ he says, ‘but also a personal profile that’s really compelling.’” In August 2021, Sophia headed to NYC to start her freshman year at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Always the adventurous spirit, Sophia opted to have a randomly assigned roommate her freshman year and became fast friends with her Russian roommate. She had had enough of dorm living after her freshman year and moved off campus. She now lives in an apartment near Times Square. Sophia says the extensive project-based experience she gained at Pathways High serves her well at NYU Steinhardt as the school is almost entirely project-based. Starting in her junior year, Sophia was student teaching two full days/week while taking a full class load. Now in her senior year, she is student teaching three full days/week while also taking a full class load. All of her college classes are based on her school placements. As an early childhood major, her NYC public school placements have been in pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade. Her favorite was a Headstart early childhood center where she worked with three year olds. She appreciates NYU’s focus on culturally responsive teaching centered on the development of the whole child and making sure every child feels represented. Providing immersion in real-world teaching practices beginning in their junior year is likely a strong reason why NYU Steinhart is ranked No. 8 (tie) out of 255 in Best Education Schools in the 2024 Education Program & Specialities Rankings. Sophia said she was more prepared professionally and socially for college than her peers due to her real-world learning experiences at Pathways High. (Please see the sidebar for these experience highlights.) Ultimately, she says that has taken her further in her career development than being a good test taker. When asked what she does when she’s not teaching or attending classes, she says she enjoys training with her roommate to run her first marathon, the NYC marathon on November 3rd, of course! Her run supports the Sandy Hook Promise charity. She has already completed a 24 mile practice run so the marathon should be no problem for this accomplished young woman! Running is also a D’Attilio family activity. In December, Sophia and her Dad, a Washington Highlands resident, are headed to Florida to run a marathon team relay along with her college roommate and her roommate’s Dad. After she crosses the marathon finish line and then the graduation stage at Yankee Stadium on May 15th, Sophia plans to find a teaching position in southern Utah, near where her mom currently lives. Whichever school is lucky enough to hire Sophia, their students will benefit from an amazingly skilled teacher and a wonderful human being! More firsts and success are surely in Sophia’s future as she continues to pursue what she loves. Sidebar highlighting Sophia’s Pathways High experience and mastery transcript development (The first page of her mastery transcript could also be included.) Sophia met Pathways High’s minimum of 26 foundational credits across six concentration areas. These credits included historical connections, scientific process, and oral fluency. In addition, she earned nine advanced credits in topics such as advanced design concepts. Her mastery transcript included a personal statement that said she wanted to “activate the voices of others” and links to samples of work as follows. 1) A podcast she and classmates had produced in a seminar called “Native American Stereotypes in Media and Mascots,” that received recognition in the NPR Student Podcast Challenge 2) Background research defending the late-18th century revolt of enslaved Haitians for a mock trial from a seminar called “Revolutions on Trial” 3) Her reflections on producing and directing a school play, Space Girl, her junior year. Sophia credits her skills in collaboration and team management with her extensive Pathways High experience in theater stage management and directing.