KIPP Nashville College Prep Elementary School

These influential educators are using style and fashion to form one-of-a-kind relationships with students.

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With six Nashville locations, KIPP is a community of free, non-profit public charter schools educating thousands of students. Among them is KIPP Nashville College Prep Elementary School (KNCPE), where 35 percent of the faculty is male and African American—both uncommon characteristics of elementary school staff. Here, using style and fashion to draw bonds, teachers and students form one-of-a-kind relationships, sharing lessons for the classroom and beyond.

Dressed to Impress: From colorful bow ties to patterned dress socks, teachers at KNCPE dress in ways that influence students outside of the classroom. And it shows: More and more of the students now mirror their instructor’s style.

“What we have seen is [teacher fashion] rubbing off on kids, and they are starting to do similar things. They’re starting to bring in their individual style and finding out more about who they are,” says assistant principal Cameron Frazier.

Influencing by Design: First grade student Jaiven Buchanan quickly took notice of the way his teachers dressed, often asking where they buy their clothes.

“I think it’s because he sees Mr. Frazier every day,” says Jaiven’s mother, Jaleesa Bowen. “He’s growing up now, and he’s like, ‘Mom, I need a bow tie.’ Whose six-year-old is asking for bow ties? Most kids don’t want stuff like ties or dress socks.”

Common Ground: Associate teacher Christian LaSane says he uses clothes to create deeper connections with students.

“[Students] know they have something in common with us, and they can relate to us. Although we’re years [apart in] age, they can still relate to something we have in common.”

Instant Connections: Teachers at KNCPE are using these unique relationships to benefit students, and create incentives in the classroom.

“I have a student who loves Supreme, but he gets in trouble in class sometimes. We have a deal that if he does well one week, he’ll get a Supreme sticker. It’s small things like that helping us build that connection and bond,” Frazier says.

Role Models: The duties of staff members at KNCPE expand beyond the normal responsibilities of a teacher.

“Most [students] do not have this kind of example,” LaSane says. “They spend most of their day with us, so it’s important they’re getting the right lessons, not just in school but in life, too.”

Expressing Individuality: Not only do clothes help boost confidence, KNCPE students are also finding their identity at a young age.

“It’s important for a kid to have their own personal style and not look at the media to tell them what they should dress like. You should be you. You should be an individual and be a trailblazer,” says Frazier.