Laughter. The Black Box Theatre is consumed by laughter. I turn to Ms. Davis, who is actively praising how “ridiculous” and “stupid” my new Superman monologue is (don’t be mistaken, “stupid” in this context is a good thing). I’m beaming. I’m in eighth grade, and this is the first thing I’ve written that actually matters—or it at least feels like it matters. Ms. Davis is letting us write monologues to add to the 2022 Middle School play, Superheroes. Hundreds of people are going to see this monologue, and she thinks it’s funny. That’s a real honor.

Middle and Upper School Theatre Teacher Ms. Julia Davis began teaching at Westridge nine years ago—if she had started as a fourth grader, she would now be a graduating senior. Ms. Davis teaches the Middle School theatre elective for both seventh and eighth grade, Acting I in the Upper School, Student Voices, and directs the annual Middle School play. Ms. Davis recently announced that she will be leaving Westridge this year to practice therapy. Although Ms. Davis will no longer work in education, she sees many similarities between therapy and teaching, as she considers both “heart work.” Beyond Westridge, Ms. Davis will carry her experiences and lessons from Madeleine Drive. “I’ve learned to continue to have hope and joy because I see it through all of the students,” Ms. Davis said.

Ms. Davis has definitely made a large impact on the Westridge community throughout her time here. One memorable staple of her classes is her silliness. In the Black Box, “people” becomes “peepadoodles” and “circles” become “coicles.” Noemi A. ’31, a student in the Theatre 7 class and an actor in this year’s Middle School play, said, “The 1st time she said ‘coicle,’ we were all really confused, but now we don’t call it anything else. And it’s weird when people say ‘circle.’ It’s a ‘coicle.’” 

Ms. Davis said, “I think I lead with my own silliness. I don’t realize until the students mirror it back to me.”

On top of being one of the most fun teachers around, Ms. Davis is also an incredibly supportive individual. I can confidently say that my time in Ms. Davis’s office has been equal parts smiles and tears. She always has words of encouragement and wisdom to offer her students. Eighth grader Julia M., who is one of Ms. Davis’s advisees and an actor in the Middle School play, said, “When I was in the Middle School play she was so supportive, and she’s always been really kind to me. She always gives me room to talk to her whenever I need someone.”

Ms. Davis’s support exceeds her work with her students and influences how she treats everyone on campus, including her fellow theatre faculty. Director of Theatre Mr. Brandon Kruhm said, “Ms. Davis is pretty much the best. It was an incredible joy working with her for nine years. I think she cares so much about other people—students and adults alike—so I will miss having somebody around who just takes care of everyone so well.”

Ms. Davis reciprocates the love of working with Mr. Kruhm and the other theatre adults including Theatre Production Manager Ms. Jan Kellogg, Scenic and Properties Designer Ms. Cindy Lin, Technical Director Mr. Rob Siminoski, Costume Designer Ms. Io Hawk, and Production Assistant Mr. Rolando Fernandez. She said, “I just love in our meetings that there’s always moments of levity, and we really are connected. Nobody is off doing their own thing and doesn’t show up. We all show up for each other.”

Overall, Ms. Davis will miss the students and the adult friends she has met at Westridge, and hopes to have helped each of them appreciate their individuality. “I hope that anyone I’ve come into contact with as students understands that what makes them unique is what they should hold onto,” she said. “I hope that I’ve given students the permission to be themselves, and to not only just be themselves, but to celebrate it.”

This moment is a bitter sweet one for Ms. Davis and the Westridge community both. While everyone is excited for her, she will be dearly missed. Ninth grade Acting I student Dorothy M. said, “She’s so funny, and she’s so nice, and she’s such a good teacher, and I’m gonna miss her so much next year.” 

Laughter. Applause. Tears. The Black Box Theatre is alive. It’s the opening performance of the 2026 Middle School play, To Keep Her a Nestling, which Ms. Davis gave me the incredible opportunity of writing, and all four performances have sold out audiences. I turn to Ms. Davis, and spy her big smile. I smile too, reminiscing on the days in which she gave me the confidence to write that first monologue, which inspired me to seriously pursue playwriting. That’s Ms. Davis’s impact—she turns dreamers into doers.