Science teacher Daryl Bowman’s walls reflect both his enthusiasm for space and his emphasis on positivity. When entering his classroom students are immediately surrounded by walls filled with motivational quotes and positive affirmations to uplift students.

“There’s a lot of studies that colorful things make you feel happy,” Bowman said. “I wanted to make it so that wherever you look, you can see something and read something that hopefully makes you think positive things.”

Beyond the uplifting messages, Bowman’s love of science shines through his carefully curated decorations, including posters of galaxies, exoplanets, stars and dust matter, as well as images of renowned scientists.

“Because of my passion for space, and I have a son who works in the space industry, my favorites are probably some of the space stuff,” Bowman said.

From a Mona Lisa puzzle she put together with her family to impressionist art posters from museum visits, French teacher Fabienne Champion’s classroom brings a touch of her homeland to Northwood.

“I wanted to create a warm environment that is welcoming and makes [my students] feel like they’re in a French-speaking country,” Champion said.

However, her favorite pieces are meaningful gifts from past students, including a student-made painting from 2003, a pair of ballerina shoes from 2009 and a poster of the “Little Prince” mentioning all the fun activities the students enjoyed in her class.

Among the unique aspects of her classroom is a wall dedicated to packaged displays of French cheese, showcasing the country’s rich culinary culture. 

“I think when people think of France, they think, bread, wine and cheese,” Champion said. “I just wanted the students to get a small sample of the varieties that are available in France, and also because I love cheese.”

The first item you’ll find in this science classroom won’t be a periodic table or a whiteboard full of notes. Perched high above the cabinets, the quirky menagerie of stuffed animals, figurines and student-made creations is a carefully curated ecosystem, each piece reflecting science teacher Angie Olivares’s deep-rooted passion for environmental science.

From Pokemon plushies to handcrafted animal ornaments made of recycled material, many of her decorations are gifts from students, family and friends, making the space feel both personal and immersive. 

“For Christmas, I’ll try to get the kids to not buy things that will end up in a landfill,” Olivares said. “I’ve had many students purchase for me endangered species stuffed animals and certificates where they’ve donated money.”

Beyond the decorations, Olivares’s AP Environmental Science projects leave a lasting mark through hands-on projects that transform the classroom into a living gallery. 

“We’ve [made] ecological footprint shoes made of recycled materials, where it shows the footprint of damage a country has on the planet,” Olivares said.

Have you ever imagined a universe where Bob Ross lives with the Muppets and Maya Angelou’s wisdom sits alongside a Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness? Luckily, it’s possible in English teacher Angela Allen’s classroom, where every wall bursts with color, nostalgia and a hint of pop culture. Some examples include her father’s wildlife photographs from the 1970s, her grandma’s Bob Ross paintings, posters or images of butterflies, paper cranes hanging from the ceiling and a cozy “self-help corner.”

“Part of it is I can’t work in a space that is blank, and another part is that I want it to be a place where kids feel safe, and also interested,” Allen said.

On her cabinet’s top shelf lies a Muppets shrine—a growing collection including personal items and students’ gifts. A stuffed puppet of Miss Piggy and other characters, a handmade crochet of a frog and even Allen’s muppets-inspired childhood lunchbox sit proudly.

“I have loved Muppets from childhood,” Allen said. “Their whole philosophy is about friendship, music and authenticity and they’re also a little bit rebellious and weird. If I believe in any kind of religion or philosophy, it’s the Muppet philosophy.”

Math teacher Ibeth Ortiz Jaime’s classroom feels like entering a living scrapbook—one filled with years of memories, warmth and a touch of cow-themed charm. 

“I wanted a place where [my students] see me reflected in it,” Jaime said, “and also just walking in and not feeling like, oh, this is a standard school classroom.”

Her collection of cow stuffed animals is a reflection of her years of teaching and the connections she’s built with her students. Growing up in a small town, Mrs. Jaime’s love for the animal grew. 

“Where I grew up, you see tons of cows out in the hills,” Jaime said. “They’re just so beautiful and peaceful, and I feel like that peace is what draws me—they’re just out there grazing and walking around.”