Teacher Feature Friday! 6/30/17

We’re back with another “Teacher Feature Friday”! The summer is just flying by and it’s hard to believe teachers start back to work in a few weeks! (Spoiler alert: on July 10th we’ll be sharing what the teachers learn before students come back to school!) We hope you’re getting excited to meet (or catch up with) our awesome teachers soon.

AMS Prince – Kathy Hartley, Middle School Science Teacher

All of our teachers are special, but Mrs. Hartley is one of our especially crucial teachers! She has been teaching for 30 years, the last 12 of which were at AMS. Mrs. Hartley teaches biology, earth science, and chemistry to 5th-8th grades. She also finds time to help with a million other things at school, including being a Science Olympiad coach, Robotics Club sponsor, Science Fair Coordinator, PAC meeting coordinator, and Bookfair sponsor. You can even find her in this AMS video. Outside of work, Mrs. Hartley enjoys knitting, sewing, repairing violins, and cooking.

MASSA – Kate Hillman, 4th/5th Grade Teacher

Ms. Hillman is one of our rockstar 4th and 5th grade teachers. She loves the “family feel” of MASSA and this year is moving up with her 4th grade class to 5th grade.  Ms. Hillman is also pursuing graduate school, and happens to be a co-author of another piece on this blog! In her own words, “As a teacher, the community makes a world of difference to a classroom atmosphere, and I couldn’t ask for a better community than the one that surrounds MASSA.”

AMS Flower – Richard Galewski, PE Teacher

“Coach G” is originally from Wisconsin, where he earned his Master’s and was also an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin Platteville. Prior to that he was a college athlete during his undergraduate career, and even got to play professionally in China! Coach G. has taught and coached at the elementary and high school levels for four years and loves “helping kids of all ages extend their comfort zone…and reflect gratitude in their attitude.”

AMS Camelback – Christine Oszust, 2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Oszust joined AMS Camelback during its first year of existence and we’re so glad she’s stayed! Teaching is her passion and she brings a specific skill set in reading intervention. She is originally from New York, but she and her husband and 3-year-old son have been in Arizona since 2008.

These teachers and ALL teachers deserve lots of thanks and recognition. Check back next Friday; we’ll be sharing the love with four more AMS educators!

Your turn: Tell us how a teacher, from AMS or elsewhere, has impacted your life for the better!