Welcome!
My name is Ellie Kriese. I teach middle school science and media at Saint John's. This is my first year at Saint John’s and I am so excited to share my love of science with the students here!
Professional Background:
I earned my bachelor's degree from The University of Wisconsin-River Falls in biology and started my career working as an aquatic ecologist in northern MN. I had the opportunity to study the lakes of Minnesota and educate lake owners about aquatic plants and water quality. I also worked with school districts in northern MN; developing curriculum to educate youth about aquatic invasive species and lake health. During my experience at the lab, I discovered that I not only have a love for the sciences, but I also have a passion for sharing it with others. I decided to go back to school to earn my masters degree in education from Western Governors University. I am excited to start my first year at Saint John’s doing what I love most, teaching science education. When I am not teaching, I enjoy exploring state parks, hiking, camping, and swimming with my husband, son. I also love animals of all kinds, I have 2 dogs and 2 cats at home!
Education Philosophy:
I believe that teaching is a science. Every lesson is an experiment, a teacher plans and can hypothesize how the students may interpret the presented material. However, there are everyday variables that can impact learning. As a teacher, it is essential to reflect, listen, and learn from students to ensure that they are given the proper resources to succeed. Each student learns differently, and it is important to keep asking questions and experimenting with lesson plans to determine the learning strategies that help students to learn and retain information. Students should be able to apply the material they learn in the classroom to their everyday lives, whether it is working on social, team building, or specific content skills that they will use in the workforce someday.