When Nikolai and Rachel Vitti made the decision to move to Jacksonville, they anticipated it would be a good fit, but accepting the role of Superintendent of Duval County Schools was not something Nikolai took lightly. “I gained the sense that the community as a whole wanted change, and that they wanted an agent of change,” Vitti says. “That challenge spoke to where I was professionally.”
Initially, they lived in a two-bedroom apartment in the urban core in an effort to keep their costs low and pay off their student loans. It was a tight squeeze considering they have four children. But it was convenient, and they appreciated the urban lifestyle. Situated on the Southbank, the high-rise apartment was in walking distance to work for Nikolai. When they began looking for a larger place, they knew they wanted to stay in the area. They were accustomed to the convenience of being in close proximity to everything: work, schools, civic events, dining and the river.
Rachel says they looked all over San Marco and Riverside but nothing seemed quite right. “Springfield had the diversity we wanted and the proximity to downtown. It is modest but nice.”
She remembers first walking into the two-story home on the tree-lined street in Historic Springfield and thinking it would fit the family perfectly, especially with an office in the back for Nikolai and a pool for the hot weather. It’s hard to tell from looking at it, but their home is actually newer construction; a Craftsman-style house that blends in with the style of the other homes. It’s referred to as an SRG home, part of a larger development project by the Springfield Revitalization Group.
The Vittis have been living in Springfield for two and a half years now, and they couldn’t be happier. “Of all the neighborhoods we’ve lived in, I’ve enjoyed living in this neighborhood the most,” says Nikolai. “It gives me more the feeling of the Midwest, and having grown up in Detroit, I like how the houses are close together.”
Rachel echoes his enthusiasm: “Of all the houses we’ve lived in, this is the one we’ve got the most cookies, cakes, ‘heys,’ ‘how-ya-doings’ and ‘welcome homes.’” And that’s saying a lot, considering they’ve lived in many places all over the country, including neighborhoods in Boston, Winston-Salem, Tallahassee, Miami, and New York.
The diversity of the neighborhood is something that makes it special, says Nikolai. “When people say ‘diversity’ they think ethnicity and race, but there’s also class, and I think there is good socioeconomic diversity in this neighborhood.”
Rachel and Nikolai recognize that Springfield has a perception problem, but they believe it’s only because many people have never experienced the charm and community spirit of Springfield. The neighborhood can’t seem to fully shake its reputation for being unsafe, but the Vittis say they haven’t experienced any problems involving crime other than one incident with theft from a car.
The Vitti kids like that Springfield is close to where they have to be, and they love riding their bikes and playing outside. They have a vegetable garden in the back and lots of friends around the neighborhood. “When we first got here, the neighbors didn’t necessarily let their kids out and about,” Rachel says. “But when they saw that we were outside, they started to do it too.”
“There is a sort of grittiness to Springfield,” admits Nikolai, “But I like it. It’s who I am, so I feel comfortable here.”
Rachel compares the perception problem of Springfield to the perception problem of public schools in general. She says that if families don’t go in and see for themselves, they may have an unwarranted fear of public education.
For Rachel and Nikolai, public education has always been a passion. They met in college and both started out as public school teachers. “Back in the day when we were figuring out how to leave our mark on society, we realized that education would affect the most people,” Rachel explains. Nikolai agrees: “Our first jobs were teachers. It’s always been a vehicle for social change.”
Rachel began her career as an elementary school teacher and still works in education as an advocate for children with special learning needs. Nikolai began teaching middle and high school. Although he’s held some high ranking positions since then, the most significant role they’ve both played in education for the last thirteen years has been in the home.
“It’s a home about ideas,” Nikolai says. “Everyone has a strong opinion. We are all critical thinkers. We are all independent thinkers. Whether it’s at the kitchen table, or sitting on the couch watching a documentary. It’s always, ‘What do you think? Do you agree? Do you disagree? How does this relate to the real world?’”
Rachel says, “Schoolwork isn’t something that necessarily comes easily to those in this house, so we spend extra time on it. We always try to focus on the larger concepts that you can take from it, rather than the A’s and B’s of it.”
They want to raise their children to become leaders through education, and they have the same goal for all of the students in the Duval County school system. “We want to use our own education to create opportunities for others in the community. It’s been a vehicle for self-actualization and self-realization,” says Nikolai. “And we are trying to pass that on to our kids and to all the kids in the school system.”
At home, in mid-summertime, the family isn’t too worried about the next school year yet, but they continue using their writing and reading skills by journaling about the books they are reading over the summer. Rachel explains how it works: “They each pick their books and then free-write in their journals. At the end of the week, Nikolai will read their journals and write little notes to them about what they wrote.”
Aside from that, the kids are focused on summer activities and family traditions. Thirteen-year-old Lorenzo, the eldest, says, “We go to the Keys to see our friends from Miami. We like to fish and snorkel and swim.” Cecilia, age eleven, adds, “We also go to Detroit, Michigan every 4th of July.” She says that her dad lights the fireworks himself. In addition, they are busy in the summer with sports: basketball camp, football camp, tennis camp and soccer camp.
When it comes time to gear up for the school year, both Rachel and Nikolai agree that establishing good routines is key. “Starting at least a week in advance when getting to bed early is probably the most important thing,” Nikolai says.
Rachel also recommends going to meet the teacher during the open house before school begins. “All sixth graders will have the opportunity to meet their teachers and walk the campus this year,” says Nikolai.
What are the kids looking forward to this year? Cecilia will start middle school, and she can’t wait to try out for sports teams. Marcello, the rising fourth grader, plans on doing the same. “I want to play basketball and football,” he says. Giancarlo, the youngest, is simply excited about going into the first grade.
“Of all the houses we’ve lived in, this is the one we’ve got the most cookies, cakes, ‘heys,’ ‘how-ya-doings’ and ‘welcome homes.’” — Rachel Vitti
Marcello; Nikolai Vitti and his children Cecilia, Giancarlo and Marcello at home exploring the globe.
The Vitti home is all about nurturing thinking through engagement, and here Nikolai Vitti and his son Lorenzo enjoy a moment together at the computer.
Lorenzo Vitti plays a tune on the saxophone for his mom and brother.
“It’s a home about ideas. Everyone has a strong opinion. We are all critical thinkers. We are all independent thinkers. Whether it’s at the kitchen table, or sitting on the couch watching a documentary. It’s always, ‘What do you think? Do you agree? Do you disagree? How does this relate to the real world?’”
— Nikolai Vitti
The Vitti family moved from a high rise on the Southbank to a home in Springfield and were thrilled with the community atmosphere of the historic neighborhood.