December 2012
Welcome!
I'd like to first start off by saying how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work at Penn Brook School. I understand that with having a new teacher there may be some anxieties, so I wanted to take a moment to let you know a little about me.
Ever since I was a little girl living in a small northwest suburb of Chicago, I dreamed of being a teacher. When I was young, I would play school in my room. My older siblings were "too cool" to play along and my younger sister was just a baby, so I would take attendance on my clipboard with imaginary students. I never had a second thought about what I wanted to pursue in my future.
In 1996, my family traded the cold snowy winters of Illinois for the hot dry deserts of Arizona. It is there where I "grew up." I attended college at Arizona State University and graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. I was fortunate to work at the same school where I had completed my student teaching, Surprise Elementary. The students, staff, and families I met during those 7 years became a second family. So how did I end up in Massachusetts?!? In 2009, I met my future husband, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force. We got married in October 2011 and received orders for a change of station to Hanscom Air Force Base here in Massachusetts that following summer.
At the beginning of the school year, I was a long term substitute here at Penn Brook for a 5th grade class. I was impressed with the students, staff, and community of Penn Brook. I was very pleased to be asked to come back and teach 3rd grade.
As a teacher, my first priority is to make sure I provide a safe environment for your child to learn. I build our classroom on the ideas of Respect, Responsibility, and Safety. I believe working together in your child's education is the most beneficial. I take pride in our classroom and set high expectations of all students. I also believe in a classroom of good character. Our classroom will work together to build a sense of trust, safety, and community. I promise to work hard to make sure your child is achieving success in the classroom academically and socially. During my time as an educator, I have learned how communication between the classroom and home is very important. I will do my best to keep you up to date on what is going on in the classroom and your child. Also, feel free to contact me about any questions, comments, or concerns you may have.
The last couple years have been a whirlwind to say the least, but I am excited to start this new adventure in New England and at Penn Brook. Bear with me, I am still getting use to the fact that it actually gets "cold" here! ;-) Again, I am excited to get to know you and your children and look forward to a wonderful year of learning and fun!
Mrs. Mavrakis