Striving for a "creative maladjustment". (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Amanda Cavin I am so excited to begin this new journey of teaching and coaching with Julie Fowler and Tessie Robinson this school year. My experiences as a teacher leader since 2003 have prepared me well for the challenges ahead. Those experiences, coupled with the phenomenal faculty at Unity Grove Elementary, should make for an incredible year! I strongly believe that children learn best when they have a voice and a choice in their learning and when the experiences they have are authentic and meaningful. I have felt a renewed sense of joy when teaching ever since I began engaging students through project-based learning a few years ago. It is my hope that other teachers will feel the same way as they become more comfortable with project-based learning and as they observe their students engaged in creative problem solving with positive outcomes. Touch base with our school's progress towards becoming a PBL school on our blog!
When I am not searching for creative resources, making connections with other educators, or participating in a Twitter chat, I am still busy with kids...my own! My husband, Sean, and I have two amazing young girls, Lily and Elliott. We enjoy traveling, visiting local parks, playing Barbie hair salon, cooking, and reading books. In addition to spending time with my family, I am also a long distance runner, avid coffee drinker, and a foodie. Running gives me the time for reflection and the challenge of breaking through mental barriers that stand between me and my personal goals. I hope to empower my students to do the same with the goals they have for themselves. You can learn more about our students and the level to which they challenge themselves on this blog and our Tweets!
When I am not searching for creative resources, making connections with other educators, or participating in a Twitter chat, I am still busy with kids...my own! My husband, Sean, and I have two amazing young girls, Lily and Elliott. We enjoy traveling, visiting local parks, playing Barbie hair salon, cooking, and reading books. In addition to spending time with my family, I am also a long distance runner, avid coffee drinker, and a foodie. Running gives me the time for reflection and the challenge of breaking through mental barriers that stand between me and my personal goals. I hope to empower my students to do the same with the goals they have for themselves. You can learn more about our students and the level to which they challenge themselves on this blog and our Tweets!
Julie Fowler Welcome to our weebly! I am thrilled to work with Amanda Cavin and Tessie Robinson this year and over the moon about helping others discover project-based learning in the classroom. This is my 23rd year in education and I have taught every grade-level K-5 as well as Title I, special education, and gifted. I have had the pleasure of serving under some of the absolute best leadership over many years and am thankful for all I have learned from each of these leaders. Although I have taught for a very long time, my passion has not diminished for molding kids into life-long learners. I cannot imagine doing anything else as God has given me a talent that I strive to use to the best of my ability.
My family is very supportive of my career. My husband, Greg, is a business owner and hard worker for our family. Seth, my son, works with his dad in the family business and is engaged to be married in August 2015. Finally, my daughter, Abbie, is 17 and a senior at Locust Grove High School this year! Together, we like to ride ATVs, go camping, and have cookouts with friends and family. The Fowler family has a lot going on as you can tell. I thank God every day for my family and wouldn't trade them for a million dollars!
My family is very supportive of my career. My husband, Greg, is a business owner and hard worker for our family. Seth, my son, works with his dad in the family business and is engaged to be married in August 2015. Finally, my daughter, Abbie, is 17 and a senior at Locust Grove High School this year! Together, we like to ride ATVs, go camping, and have cookouts with friends and family. The Fowler family has a lot going on as you can tell. I thank God every day for my family and wouldn't trade them for a million dollars!
Tessie Robinson Sweet is the adjective I would use to describe this upcoming school year! I will have the pleasure of teaching alongside Amanda Cavin and Julie Fowler, two of Unity Grove’s finest educators. This will be my fourth year teaching. I have taught two years in first grade and this will be my second year teaching fifth grade. My experiences in the past four years have revealed that all children should be presented with a healthy, real-world community that promotes meaningful learning. With the support of my colleagues I am confident that through the project-based Learning approach, we will accomplish this sense of community within our classrooms.
Although I became a certified educator only four years ago, my family has contributed to my teaching experiences for many years. My husband, Niqua, is an Elevator and Escalator Inspector who enjoys spending time with our family and coaching youth sports. We have a blended family that consists of our son Justin who is almost 13 years old and starting 7th grade this school year. Our middle son, Niqua, Jr. is 11 years old and will be entering 6th grade. Hailie is our only daughter and of course, she is the diva of the family. Our youngest, Torrey, is 8 years old and will be starting 3rd grade. We are a big sports family- mainly baseball. We also enjoy watching movies, cooking, attending all levels of sporting events, and going out to eat dinner together. I am very thankful for each one of them and feel blessed that they are a part of my life!
Although I became a certified educator only four years ago, my family has contributed to my teaching experiences for many years. My husband, Niqua, is an Elevator and Escalator Inspector who enjoys spending time with our family and coaching youth sports. We have a blended family that consists of our son Justin who is almost 13 years old and starting 7th grade this school year. Our middle son, Niqua, Jr. is 11 years old and will be entering 6th grade. Hailie is our only daughter and of course, she is the diva of the family. Our youngest, Torrey, is 8 years old and will be starting 3rd grade. We are a big sports family- mainly baseball. We also enjoy watching movies, cooking, attending all levels of sporting events, and going out to eat dinner together. I am very thankful for each one of them and feel blessed that they are a part of my life!