Erica Edwards
School: Martin Luther King Academy Head Start in Marin City
Subject: Preschool
What's your go-to teaching outfit? "A pair of jeans, a comfy T-shirt, a cozy sweater, funky earrings or a headband, and my trusty blue Converse high tops. Plus, a change of clothes in the trunk of my car in case of finger-painting emergencies!"
How do you balance dressing as fashion-forward and school-appropriate? "I add personality to my outfits with accessories and I try to adapt my fashion to the lessons that my students are learning. Whenever we learn about a new color, I usually incorporate that color into my outfit. And I'm starting to collect themed earrings of every kind—food, animals, etc.—to build student vocabulary and to strike up conversation with them on the playground."
What dress-code rule is hardest not to break? "It can be really hard not wearing my favorite dresses and outfits to school. Sometimes, on beautiful days, I want to wear sundresses or a pretty blouse, but I have to be realistic. Paint and Play-Doh will cover my clothes by the end of the day, so I save my favorite clothes for the weekend."

Photo: Michelle Drewes