Faces of Na'atik - Sophia, Library Activities Coordinator
Na'atik’s mission would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our incredible staff. Our library is home to one of the many talented team members who make our school shine—Sophia Wilson. This month, we sat down with her to get an inside look into her background, the daily ins and outs of the library, and her goals and hopes for this important space in the coming year.
Sophia came to Na’atik with a long history of teaching English and working with diverse students from all around the world. In the past, she has taught students in Guadeloupe, France, Poland, Senegal, Greece, and the Czech Republic. Initially, she inquired about joining Na’atik thinking she would continue her career as an English teacher in traditional classrooms; however, Na’atik’s leadership team recognized her exceptional creativity and suggested she consider taking on the role of Library Activities Coordinator instead. She loved the idea of a new challenge and applying her skill set in a creative way, so she decided to give it a go. For the last three months, she has been settling into her new position and adding her personal touch to Na’atik’s library.
For Sophia, there’s never a dull day in the library. Typically, she spends her days planning and conducting activities with Na’atik’s local Indigenous English students that complement their curriculum and challenge them to move beyond their normal class content. For example, the students recently enjoyed an activity focused on studying Christmas traditions around the world. They watched a video featuring international folks sharing their diverse Christmas customs. Following the video, the students used the library computers and laptops to research a country of their choosing and then shared their findings with their classmates. To finish, they got their creative juices flowing by crafting paper gift boxes, which they gave as presents to their friends and families.
When she’s not working with students, Sophia spends much of her time organizing the library space, cataloging the growing book collection, designing content to advertise the variety of after-class activities, and planning future workshops. Recently, Sophia has been busy preparing a workshop on street art for the new year. She plans to teach the students about the historical and cultural significance of street art, showcasing examples she encountered during her travels. To engage their creative side, the students will make stencils inspired by local animals and imagery such as jaguars, regional birds, and stingless Melipona bees. They will then experiment by creating paper artwork.
Na’atik students clearly enjoy their time in the library as much as Sophia does. According to her, the students have been especially excited about group storytime sessions featuring new illustrated books donated in recent months. Group favorites include the "Where Is My Hat?" series and "De Dónde Eres?" These books encourage students to develop their love of literature in both English and Spanish. As students have grown more comfortable with her, they’ve become more confident in reading aloud. When it comes to Spanish books, students eagerly translate the stories into English for Sophia. Sometimes, they even assert their turn to read, sneaking in a few pages before the next student demands their fair share. Sophia notes that students gravitate toward beautifully illustrated books geared toward emerging readers, as most read between A1 (Beginner) and A2 (Advanced Beginner) levels in English. With this in mind, she recommends simpler picture books for supporters to donate—books that can help build both confidence and a love of reading.
This enthusiasm for reading and meaningful library time is exceptional, especially considering some students have no prior experience with libraries before coming to Na’atik. Often, new students poke their heads into the library, curious but unfamiliar with the space and how it differs from a traditional classroom. As a result, Sophia is committed to creating a unique learning environment that feels distinct and welcoming. She hopes students see the library as a place of exploration, creativity, and imagination—a space where they can let their ideas run wild. Sophia also wants the library to feel comfortable, joyful, and safe. Beyond her caring and responsive presence, she envisions enhancing the space with comfortable furniture like couches and reading chairs, as well as round, easily movable tables to foster collaboration and the seamless sharing of ideas.
Looking ahead to 2025, Sophia hopes to expand what’s possible in the library and beyond. She dreams of incorporating more musical and digital literacy lessons. As an avid ukulele player, she often brings her instrument to class to share with students. She hopes the Give the Gift of Literacy campaign will raise enough funds to purchase a class set of ukuleles, allowing small groups of students to play along and discover their musical potential. Similarly, Sophia emphasizes the importance of digital literacy and typing skills, particularly for older students preparing for university or workplace settings. If funds permit, she hopes to acquire a new set of school laptops so students can practice typing properly, as some currently type using only one or two fingers.
While physical donations are crucial to achieving her goals, Sophia also highlights the importance of donated time. She is always looking for volunteers to lead library workshops on topics they’re passionate about, including their careers. In the past, MaS immersion students have led Career Day workshops, sharing their journeys and inspiring local students to imagine exciting futures. Sophia hopes Maya and Spanish immersion students will continue to get involved, giving the gift of their time and expertise to support Na’atik’s local Indigenous students.
Looking for reading recommendations? For kids, Sophia suggests "Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus," which is fun to read aloud using different voices and accents for each character. For adults, she recommends "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer, anything by James Baldwin, and "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Thank you, Sophia, for all your great work!
To learn more about how donations can help the Na’atik library to grow and offer our local students even more support, visit our Give the Gift of Literacy and Impact pages