Rachel Kramer Theodorou
Childhood General Education '98
Be a plucky educator! Pivot as often as you can, and know that the field of education has exploded in terms of career paths. Go somewhere in the field and be there for three to five years, and really get immersed in it before making your next move.
Rachel Kramer Theodorou transitioned her career from the high-pressure world of Manhattan investment banking to a career in education that she describes as “a whole life-changing experience.” Now as the elementary education faculty leader at Brandeis University, she oversees elementary and early childhood programs that prepare public school teachers.
Although she comes from a long line of educators, Rachel initially pursued a career that would provide financial success. Her perspective shifted when she visited a friend’s classroom. She remembers that moment as feeling like an epiphany and she knew she needed to make the change, thinking “Oh my god, this is the exhilaration I am looking for, and that my uncle and my aunt and other people in my life keep talking about.”
Her transition into education began in New York City at the Town School, where a memorable rooftop interview—conducted while the lead teacher hosed down students in bathing suits—convinced her she was on the right path. After teaching for a while, she started looking at graduate schools, and Bank Street was top of the list because the educators she admired most were “Bank Street people.”
At Bank Street, Rachel specialized in second-language acquisition, developing a thesis that became the foundation for the Town School’s first Spanish program. Her training instilled a deep appreciation for what she calls “Bank Street goodness”—a philosophy rooted in relevance and immersive, hands-on learning.
Reflecting on the lasting impact of her early career mentors (both Bank Street grads themselves) and the materials she still keeps close at hand, she said, “We did plays that had these extensive learning goals within them, but they were all grounded in play. We used songs as part of what we were learning in math and history. I still have pages in my files from those days of working with those mentor teachers.”
Rachel carried this influence into her work teaching social justice at Riverdale Country School and her time in the public schools of Newton, Massachusetts. Throughout these shifts, she has practiced her lifelong mantra (instilled in her during her time at Bank Street) to “see your teaching from a child’s-eye point of view.”
In 2014, Rachel joined the faculty of the Education Studies Program at Brandeis University. Today, she teaches several courses about multilingualism, elementary education, including one using a geography model she created during her Bank Street days. She advises dozens of students and serves on multiple committees, yet her heart remains in the classroom.
“Truly, Bank Street is always in my heart. It’s the reason I teach. I walk into a third-grade classroom and I still feel like I’m a third-grade teacher, and that feels great.”
To the next generation of educators, she recommended that they find their “anchor,” which is their reason for teaching, and their “marigolds,” the supportive colleagues who lift them up. She also encourages new teachers to remain flexible as the profession evolves.
“Be a plucky educator,” she advised. “Pivot as often as you can, and know that the field of education has exploded in terms of career paths. Go somewhere in the field and be there for three to five years, and really get immersed in it before making your next move.”
Hear Rachel speak about her experiences.