Return to Headlines

12-17-20 — Identical Twins Play Identical Role for Students

Dec. 17, 2020 ~ “I have received several hugs from little strangers at the store and had to text a picture to my sister letting her know one of her little friends stopped me to say hi,” Millbrooke Elementary librarian Julie Makela said.

“I don’t know how many times I say ‘Oh, do you think I’m Mrs. Mak?’ in a month. Julie is super popular,” Meadow Lane Elementary Jennifer Howey said.

As identical twin sisters working in the same school district, Julie and Jennifer take it in stride when they are recognized in public places, even if it’s by another school’s students. Having a district doppelgänger is already unique, but interestingly enough the sisters are both librarians at elementary schools located 1.5 miles from one another.

photo of Jennifer Howey and Julie Makela Julie and Jennifer feel like being an educator is in their blood. Their mom, grandmother, great aunts, aunts and cousins all share the profession. “I can remember spending hours helping our mom prep her classroom,” said Jennifer. “When we weren’t helping her, we set up pretend classrooms at home where we honed our skills.

While education was a passion, it wasn’t until college when the sisters discovered a desire for young readers.

“I realized a passion for children’s literature by taking a class taught by Ann Addison at the University of Kansas during my undergrad,” said Julie. Addison currently is the new educator induction coordinator for Olathe Public Schools.

“It was that class at KU that really sparked a love for reading books to kids,” said Jennifer. “Teaching first grade for about 10 years, let me encourage young readers to love books and feel successful with reading and that fired up my passion for reading as well.”

Students are not the only ones doing double takes and mistaking the sister’s identity. Staff members have also confused the two. “Jennifer started here five years ago but Julie was already in that role, having started at Central Elementary before opening Millbrooke,” Meadow Lane Principal Brian Lowe said. “One day I walk into our library and I’m seeing double. It was then I learned they were twin sisters with the same job.”

Jennifer moved to Wichita after college and taught while her husband finished his degree. As they moved back near family in Olathe, Jennifer was set to interview with the Olathe Public Schools where Julie already worked. “There were some administrators who were super confused why I was at the new teacher orientation and acted like I was in the wrong place,” said Jennifer.

A special, unspoken connection is something that most twins are said to have and while the pair says they never really liked dressing the same, it often happens by accident. “We usually carpool to district-level professional development and it never fails that when we get in the car, we’ve somehow managed to dress the same and someone has to change,” said Jennifer.

“They have a special connection and trust which allows them to collaborate on another level,” Lowe said. “The library is the heart of any school and we are fortunate to have these educators at the helm, they do an incredible job!”

“Both are compassionate, service oriented people,” Millbrooke Principal Stephanie Dancso said. “They are creative, smart and a powerhouse of ideas. Meadow Lane and Millbrooke both receive the benefit of their collaboration.”

(Photo of identical twins Jennifer Howey from Meadow Lane and Julie Makela from Millbrooke)