Welcome To First Grade! I am so excited to be a First Grade Teacher here at St. John's. I consider our classroom our home away from home, and I love to share my passion for literacy, creativity, and curiousity with my students. The learning environment and community at St. John's is focused on engaging and growing the whole child; academically, socially, emotionally, mentally, and physically, so that they can shine.
I have three children that attend St. John's, and I am personally invested in our school community. I enjoy walking our dogs, reading, traveling, and being involved in all of my kids' activities.
Professional Background: I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Journalism in 2007. In 2010 I graduated from Hamline University with my Masters in Teaching and Literacy, with a K-6 Elementary Education teaching license, and a 6-8 Middle School Language Arts teaching license. From 2010-2015 I worked as a 2nd Grade teacher in the Mounds View School District. I took a leave of absence from 2015-2018 to stay home with my children, and also completed an additional licensure in K-12 Library, Technology and Media through Minnesota State University, Mankato. In 2018 I joined St. John's as a Title 1 Reading and Math Intervention teacher, then in 2019 I also became the Library, Technology and Media teacher. I have been a 1st Grade teacher at St. John's since 2020, and I also became the In-House Groves Literacy Coach for K-3 in 2022.
Education Philosophy: Every day I walk into St. John’s, I am home; I know that all of my 1st Graders are too. The sense of community, care, support, and love with and amongst teachers, staff, and students is simply remarkable. This allows every child to not only learn, grow, and flourish but to do so confidently and joyfully. I take immense pride in the strong relationships I form with every student who walks in my door and their eagerness and willingness to do and be their best each day. These personal connections encourage students’ active engagement, accountability, and drive to meet the high expectations I set for them academically, behaviorally, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It is truly amazing to see all that 1st Graders are capable of when given the right tools and opportunities to succeed.
.