Feb 26, 2025 • 5 min read
How Classroom Champions Transformed My Fifth-Grade Classroom: A Teacher’s Journey
When Natalie Stuart shared her love for the “gold medal mentality” on social media, she never expected it to connect her students with a real Olympian. Through Classroom Champions, her class was paired with gold medalist Jackie Dubrovich as their mentor, guiding them through lessons on perseverance and goal setting. The experience left a lasting impact, inspiring students to set goals and embrace challenges like true champions.
Natalie Stuart, a dedicated fifth-grade teacher at Nova Eisenhower Elementary in Davie, Florida, didn’t expect a social media post to change her school year. A lifelong Olympics fan, she never missed a chance to watch athletes push their limits on the world’s biggest stage. But beyond the medals and record-breaking moments, she was fascinated by the unseen journey—the climb, the struggles, and the perseverance it took to get there.At the start of the school year, she shared a post about teaching her students to adopt a “gold medal mentality,” using Olympians as examples of goal setting and resilience. That post caught the attention of Classroom Champions, and before she knew it, Natalie was introduced to a program that would bring real Olympians into her classroom—not just as examples, but as mentors.
Meeting Jackie Dubrovich: Lessons from an Olympic Gold Medalist
As a part of Classroom Champions, Natalie’s students were paired with Olympic gold medalist in fencing, Jackie Dubrovich, to be their athlete mentor for the year. One of the most powerful aspects of Classroom Champions is the Mentorship LIVE experience—an opportunity for students to interact with their athlete mentor in real time. For Natalie Stuart and her fifth-grade class, these live chats with Olympic gold medalist Jackie Dubrovich were nothing short of inspirational.Watching my students’ faces light up when Jackie appeared on the screen was unforgettable. In that moment, she wasn’t just an athlete on TV—she was real, relatable, and fully invested in them.
Mentorship LIVE: A Transformational Experience in Real Time
Natalie Stuart’s class had the chance to chat live with their mentor, Olympian Jackie Dubrovich.
When Natalie’s class was able to meet virtually with Jackie, one of the most surprising things Jackie shared was that she didn’t initially love fencing. She admitted that when she first started as a child, she wasn’t very good at it and didn’t enjoy it much. But instead of quitting, she stuck with it, gave herself the time to improve, and eventually developed a passion for the sport.Natalie immediately saw how powerful this message was for her students. “I always tell my kids that they don’t have to love everything at the beginning. They’re not going to be amazing at everything right away. But if they keep trying, they might grow to love it.” Hearing this lesson firsthand from an Olympic champion reinforced the idea that success isn’t about immediate talent—it’s about perseverance.
Bringing the Olympic Spirit into the Classroom
During one memorable Mentorship LIVE session, Jackie showed the students her Olympic gold medal. The class was in awe, but what truly resonated was her story of perseverance.When Jackie told my students that she had lost way more fencing matches than she had won, you could see the shock on their faces. They assumed champions always win. But Jackie taught them that failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s part of the journey.
That moment shifted the way Natalie’s students thought about goals. It showed them that success isn’t instant—it’s built over time, with persistence and resilience.
A Lasting Impact Beyond the Screen
These Mentorship LIVE sessions didn’t just inspire students in the moment—they sparked meaningful changes in their behavior and mindset. After hearing Jackie talk about her personal goal of reading 25 books by the end of the year, Natalie’s students felt motivated to set their own reading goals.The second that call ended, my students started setting their own reading goals. One even said, ‘If Jackie can finish four books in a month, so can I!’ That’s the power of seeing someone they admire working toward a goal—it makes success feel possible.
For one student in particular, the impact was profound. Struggling with confidence, they had often hesitated to pursue long-term goals. But after hearing Jackie’s story, they approached Natalie and shared their renewed determination: “I think I’m going to stick with my goal, even if I mess up. Jackie didn’t quit, so I won’t either.”Natalie says that moment alone made the entire program worth it.
The Power of Mentorship LIVE
Classroom Champions’ Mentorship LIVE sessions provide more than just an opportunity to meet an athlete—they create lasting shifts in student motivation and resilience. The ability to interact with a real mentor in real time adds an unparalleled layer of engagement that traditional lessons can’t replicate.Natalie believes that every classroom should have access to these mentorship opportunities.This isn’t just another virtual meeting. It’s an experience that stays with kids long after the call ends. My students now see challenges differently, and that’s something no textbook can teach.
