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Hi everyone! I have been teaching most of my life... but not in a traditional school. I worked in Walled Lake Public Schools teaching first grade until our first daughter was born.  After that, I homeschooled.  We started for fun and just kept going.  I love all things reading, especially teaching reading!
I've been asked to get my teaching certificate up and running again to take the new first grade class at our Parish school, where I currently volunteer as the librarian.  I'm very excited to get back into a traditional classroom again!

I live in Grand Rapids, with my husband, and three kids, and a giant yellow lab named Strider. (Yes, from Lord of the Rings:)

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Educator: I am in my fourth year of teaching in Comstock Park, MI.  I am a reading intervention teacher for third grade students at Pine Island Elementary School.  I absolutely love my job and am excited to go to work each and everyday!

Student: I graduated from GVSU with my bachelors degree in education and am now working on my masters in Literacy Studies.

Home: I have been married for 21 years and have 4 children. I love to read and attend my children's sporting events! My youngest daughter plays AAU volleyball so we get to travel a lot.

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Educator:  I've spent all my years teaching in Detroit.  I taught 5th grade, then 1st&2nd for eight years. This year I made a huge change to move to Kindergarten.  The beginning of the year was really difficult, but honestly I am loving it now.

Student: I have a bachelors from The University of Michigan and am currently attending GVSU for Literacy Studies with a Reading Specialist endorsement.

Home Life:  I am married and have three boys, two in college and one in high school.  I spend much of my free time doing yoga, going out with friends and in the soccer stands cheering my youngest son William on. I also love to travel and hope to do much more of it.

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Hello everyone! I'm Tiffany Ward and I was born in raised in Detroit, MI. I currently live and teach in Detroit. I'm a third year Kindergarten teacher at University Prep Elementary- Ellen Thompson.

I attended GVSU for undergrad from 2006 - 2010. I attended Wayne State University for Graduate school from 2014- 2017 and obtained my teaching certificate and Masters of Arts in Teaching.

I absolutely love teaching! It is truly a passion of mine and Kindergarten suits me well.

I love spending time with family and friends, Netflix binging, Target, Traveling, and eating my favorite foods.

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Hey everyone! My name is Sam Greyerbiehl and I live in Charlevoix. For the last three years, I taught at an alternative education program that was attached to a rehabilitation center. I taught grades 8th through 11th and I was the only teacher in the building. It was really challenging work, but I learned a lot about myself! At the start of this year, I made a really difficult decision to leave that position in order to pursue being a full time graduate student. Right now, my main focus is to finish my degree and become a reading specialist! I really love to read and write and I hope to continue to work to share my passion with others.
I love spending time with my family and hanging with friends. My husband (pictured below) and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary in August. In my spare time, I enjoy writing as well as watching movies with my husband. I love to travel and I am very fortunate to be able to do lots of traveling this year with my husband through his work. I love all things Harry Potter and grew up loving Star Trek as well!
I look forward to getting to know and learning with everyone!

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Hello all! My name is Sarah Hadd and I live in Traverse City. I teach at pretty much the coolest school on Earth, a charter called Woodland School on 200 acres of forest. This is my 10th year at Woodland and I can't imagine ever teaching anywhere else! Our school is multi-age (purposeful grouping of kids in different grades, not due to numbers, so not like a split class). My classroom is 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.
This is one of my last masters' classes. I am so excited to graduate!
I'm really looking forward to this class because I love to read and I am passionate about getting kids to love to read. I pride myself on finding books for even the most reluctant reader to enjoy. I also love to travel.
The most important thing there is to know about me, by far, is that I am a wife and mama. I've been married for 9 years and we have an 8 year old daughter, Cailin, who is the love of our life. She enjoys reading too (especially Harry Potter), cross country running and martial arts.

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I'm Stephanie Skelly and I am a 5th grade teacher at Hanley International Academy in Hamtramck. This is my second year at Hanley, first full year teaching (I started last year in middle school RTI but decided to move into the classroom when a 5th grade teacher was needed). I previously worked for three years in Lincoln Park public schools doing small group RTI for K-5th grade.
My husband, daughter(4 years old), and I live in Southgate where we moved to over the summer. Some fun things about me: I play and coach ice hockey, play Dungeons and Dragons, am more than slightly passionate about Harry Potter, and am a huge Walking Dead fan.
This is my first round of classes in my Literacy Studies program for my Masters so I am anxious and a bit excited to be a student again!

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Hi! I graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2012 and I'm in my fifth year of teaching and my fourth year of teaching kindergarten. I spent two years teaching a K/1 and my first year teaching was for Head Start Preschool. I'm currently teaching at a Charter school in Pinckney Michigan called Light of the World Academy.
I live in Howell, MI with my husband Jason. Jason and I love traveling! We travel around Michigan several times a year and take one out not state trip every summer. I'm at the beginning of my Literacy Studies program, but have been really happy with the classes I've had so far.
I LOVE animals and got to experience meeting a sloth last fall. It was amazing!
I'm looking forward to working with all of you!

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Hello!  Here I am with my grandson, Orion.  He is now 6 months old, but he was about a week old in this picture.  I am married and have two grown up children.  I currently live in Three Rivers, MI.  My favorite summertime activities are swimming and boating.  In the winter I love to curl up with a good book when I am not studying or teaching.
I work at Dowagiac High School in Dowagiac, MI, and I have been teaching for about twenty years.  I work with special education students.  This year I am teaching Geometry, Algebra 2, Resource Lab, and a reading class.  My students span grades 9-12.
I love cats (I have three of them), and my favorite foods are ice cream and chocolate.

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Educator: I am in my third year teaching kindergarten at Coopersville Area Public Schools, just slightly north of Grand Valley’s Allendale Campus! Kindergarten was a lot younger than I thought I would end up, but I have come to find a lot of appreciation for it! So much reading foundations start at this age level!

Student: I graduated from Grand Valley in December of 2015. I am a Laker for a Lifetime and have really loved the community this school provides. I’m about halfway through the Literacy Studies Masters degree!

Personal Life: I live downtown Grand Rapids and I have loved being close to beer city! In my free time, I enjoy trying different restaurants in the area and taking walks around the city. I recently got into yoga and enjoy nice and relaxing Saturday afternoons. I also enjoy traveling and within the last year have traveled around Michigan, to New York and Spain!

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Hello! I believe this is my 21st year of teaching. My first nine years was in middle school special education and the remaining has been spent in first grade, all at Reeth-Puffer Elementary in Muskegon. A passion has been being involved with Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative educating my students about our environment through place-based education. I graduated from GVSU with both my teaching degree and master's in learning disabilities. I am back pursuing another master's degree in reading to become a reading specialist.
I have been happily married to Tom for 27 years and we have 4 pretty cool kids. Our first, Brenna, just graduated from Ferris, Nathan attends GVSU, Emma graduates high school this year, and Ben is a high school freshman.

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Hello everyone! I am in my 15th year in education. I have been a high school teacher, middle school teacher, administrator and am now going back to school to get my elementary endorsement. I am currently teaching at Glen Lake Elementary school, just west of Traverse City. I am teaching 6th grade math and science.

I have three kids ages 10, 7 and 5 and a sweet little dog named Rey! I love all things outdoors especially swimming, hiking, biking, kayaking, gardening and skiing.

I look forward to learning with and from all of you!

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Educator:  Hello all! I am in my second year as an Intervention teacher at Hanley Academy in Hamtramck with Kindergarten and first grade, but I spent 10 years in Intervention in Lincoln Park public schools before they eliminated the position and went to Literacy Coaches.  I love small group instruction and especially love teaching reading.  Prior to teaching, I was a nanny so I've spent 25 years of my life working with kids.
Student:  I have a Bachelors from the University of Michigan, a teaching degree from Eastern Michigan University and am just starting my graduate studies at GVSU in Literacy Studies.  I enjoy being a student again.
Personal Life: I'm married to a great guy named Bill and we have a corgi named Rocky who I adore like a child. We live in Oak Park which is in Oakland County (right across the freeway from the Detroit Zoo--one of my favorite summer hangouts) I'm at the end of a weight loss journey with Weight Watchers (only 7 pounds to go) and along with my new lifestyle, I like to participate in 5Ks, bike ride, and just signed up for dance class.

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Educator...I am in my third year of teaching. I have taught 4th grade at Warrendale Charter Academy in Detroit for those three years. I did a full year of student teaching with a 5th grade class in Detroit Public Schools.
Student...I received my bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 2015. Go Green! I am just starting my master's to become a Reading Specialist.
Home Life...When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time at home relaxing. I love to take naps :) I have three young nieces who are very entertaining. I like to watch sports, binge Netflix & Hulu and spend time with my boyfriend.

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Educator... I'm in my second year being a Title I teacher at Portage Central Elementary teaching reading and math K-5. I have previously taught Young 5s for a year in Portage, as well as, a 5th grade class in Colorado Springs, CO.
Student...I did my undergrad at GVSU and loved it so much, it wasn't a hard choice where to go for my Master's. This is my first class going back and getting my Master's Degree in Instruction and Curriculum. Wish me luck on this long journey ahead.
Home Life... My husband and I live in Richland, close to the Kalamazoo and Plainwell area. I've been married to a wonderful man, Adam, going on 3 years. We have a son, Dawson, who will be turning 1 this month. We love watching every stage as he grows and develops new skills. He definitely takes up most of our time, but when I'm not chasing him around, I enjoy working out, reading, (Mitch Albom is my favorite) and spending time with family and friends!

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I teach third grade in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. This is my sixth year at my current school. I have also taught second and fifth grade.
I taught before I have my children but stayed home when they were born. I returned as a guest teacher when they were school age.
My youngest is in the eleventh grade and the other two are in their freshman and senior years of college. My husband and I have been married for 21 years.
I enjoy reading, photography, dance and yoga. My husband and I also travel every chance we get.

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Hello! I teach at Cheboygan High School in Cheboygan Michigan. This is my 4th year teaching and I have a Social Studies major, English minor. This school year I am teaching English 9, English 11 and Creative Writing/ Media Literacy. I am married to a fabulous guy Robert and we have two daughters; Kristine who is in her first year of teaching at Lakewood High School in Lake Odessa and Ainsley who is in her 4th year at Central Michigan University studying International Relations.

My favorite treat are Krispy Creme donuts...I love them so much!!!

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Previously...  I have quite a diverse background of teaching history.  I graduated from Western Michigan University in 2005 with a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in early childhood and 6-8 english.  I graduated and flew to Shanghai to teach at an english school for one year. It was an amazing experience and I hope to visit again soon!  My next experience was in Romeoville, IL where I taught in an early childhood special education classroom, where I specialized in children with autism.  It was a directed teaching classroom where we focused on ABA and verbal behavior therapy.  So along with this new adventure, I attended UIC and earned an additional endorsement in early childhood education.  I moved to Michigan in 2011 and continued teaching in an early childhood special education setting in Lenawee County.  Along with this, I attended MSU and earned my graduate degree in learning disabilities.
Currently...  I am now the Reading Specialist and Intervention Director at a K-8 charter school in Jackson, Michigan.  I have found my true calling and I am so excited to dive in even deeper with these upcoming courses!
I Enjoy.. I love to travel, and spend time with family and friends! I am a huge animal advocate. I also have been very active within the community of Jackson and have been a member of a women's non-profit group. I love to be outside and i have recently been learning how to ski and golf (it hasn't been too pretty). I am always up for a new adventure!

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Introducing...Lindsey Tuinstra.
I am an educator. I have come to know that each teachers story is unique...and mine is no exception. After graduating from Ferris State in December 2010 with a Degree in Elementary Education, minoring in math and language arts I was one step closer to having my own classroom. So far I have had the privilege to teach preschool and now 7th and 8th grade English at Wayland Union Schools. Honestly, teaching middle school was never part of my plan, but when the opportunity came up 3 years ago, I took it and never looked back!
I am a student. Currently I am attending GVSU to earn a Masters in Literacy K-12 Reading Specialist. I have 18 credits completed only a few more classes to go. My husband is trying to persuade me to keep going for my doctrine. Oh dear!
I am a wife and mom. I am married to an amazing man, Ben for 16 years. We have four children, three daughters and a son who keep us busy. While attending college and before teaching full time, I was a stay at home mom for 14 years and wouldn’t trade that time for anything!
Free Time...What’s that? I am a warm weather girl...vacationing in Florida is what we do best! Summer is my favorite time of the year, we enjoying Lake Michigan boating and camping along the coast as much as possible.

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Hello, My name is Lisa Covlasky I currently teach Preschool to 16 wonderful kiddos at Orchard View Early Elementary in Muskegon, Michigan. This is my 6th year teaching in this position. I truly love what I do and I have a passion to make a positive difference in the lives of the kids that I teach. I graduated from GVSU in 2005 with a Language Arts major and a Elementary Education Minor. I went back to GVSU and earned my Early Childhood Endorsement in 2008. I am a life long learner and I believe that as I continue to learn and grow, the more I can help my kiddos learn and grow.I am currently in the Masters in Literacy Program at GVSU to become a Reading Specialist.
I am married to my husband Patrick for 27 years. We have a daughter Nicole who is 24. I am proud to say that Nicole is now working at Trinity Health in Muskegon. She is a college graduate, lives by herself, and she recently obtained her driver's license. This is amazing considering Nicole is a young adult that has Autism. She continues to breakthrough and forward. I am a very proud mom.
In my free time, my husband and I LOVE to travel. Last summer, we spent 2 weeks exploring Alaska with our best friends. We have another cruise planned for the Caribbean. In the summer, we spend a ton of time on our boat...named...Lisa's Love of course!

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I am an educator....I am a former elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist.  I have been at GVSU for 18 years teaching the undergraduate reading course and graduate literacy classes.  I am a passionate literacy advocate generating positive attitudes about reading, developing individuals to realize their strengths, and inspiring readers to flourish and grow. As a result I read a large number of children’s books every year!
I am a mom...I am married and have two grown sons. My younger son is a lawyer in Chicago and my older son works in advertising in California.  (Both great places to visit).  I have two large and silly Goldendoodles that keep me active and make my life lively!
I love my free time...Reading books (children, YA, adult) of all genre), Pilates, exercise nut, biking, hiking,  traveling (warm weather only...!), shopping, and drinking good coffee!