Teacher Spotlight: Miss Nuttall - 5th Grade

 

Ever wonder how a teacher can capture the hearts of their students? Look no further than Miss Nuttall! Ask her students if they like their teacher this year and you will get an emphatic YES! This Chocolate lovin’, Cookies & Cream Ice cream hoardin’ lady is DAR-ling! Surprisingly though her favorite food is…SALAD! I guess that helps with all the chocolate. She loves to kick back to Nora Jones. Her favorite book is 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching by Phillip Done. The title alone makes me want to read it! If she could travel anywhere in the world it would be on a Humanitarian trip to Africa. I asked what her favorite quote is and now...I'm making it my own to live by: “Happy Days are made by Happy People. And Happy People are made by CHOICE!” –Sally Huss (Artist and Children’s Author)

Grade(s) Taught: 4^th & 5^th Grade

School Name: Her first year of teaching was at Grovecrest Elementary and the last five years have been here at Central!

Roots: Born in Huntsville, Alabama but moved here to Provo, Utah when she was just 4 years old. She graduated from Provo High School and went to BYU and majored in Elementary Ed and minored in Family Life.

Teaching Motto: Work Hard, Play Hard!

Who or what inspired you to become a teacher? People, namely my family, have just always told me growing up that I should be a teacher…so I am!

My best day in the classroom was when: Honestly…last year when Chick-fil-a came and brought us lunch.

What’s your one must-have item for your classroom? Sharpies! I LOVE Sharpies! We use them a lot!

If you could have one teacher superpower, what would it be? Eyes in the back of my head. Then I could see what they’re always up to when they think I’m not paying attention.

What was the last non-academic book you’ve read? The get rich quick club by Dan Gutman

What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt? I’ve always thought it would be cool to open my own business. I don’t know what it would be…perhaps a restaurant or a bakery.

Have a question you’d like to ask your fellow educators? Being single I look at other teachers who have families to take care of and I have to ask…HOW do you balance your life with home, family and teaching?

Teacher Spotlight: Mrs. Arens – 1st Grade

Last year Mrs. Arens was at Mt. Mahogany Elementary part time and Central Elementary part time as an ESL teacher! We are so excited to have her HERE with us full time as our newest 1^st Grade Teacher!!! There’s a lot of singing and dancing going on over at her classroom! (Ask to see her Peanut Butter Jelly Time Dance!) Students love their rewards system that she implements. Some of the rewards entail coupons that allow kids to have lunch with the teacher or have Mrs. Arens clean their desk for them!

Mrs. Arens was raised in a small town in Michigan called Allegan (population 4,998).  She wasn’t kidding when she said it was small! She graduated from BYU in Elementary Education with a minor in TESOL. Her favorite treat is Chocolate Covered Caramel Anything! Favorite color is Grey. Favorite Book is the Fablehaven Series. She loves Horses, Painting, Laughing and Singing and Dancing when nobody is watching. Well except for her 1^st graders. She LOVES to Laugh and to get others to laugh, which she says is pretty perfect for her job since it’s easy to get 6 year olds giggling!
Grades Taught: ESL & 1^st Grade
Teaching Motto: We’re ALL Teachers & we’re ALL Learners, working together to lift each other up within a safe learning environment.
How many years have you been teaching? Her 2^nd Year and many more to come!
Who or what inspired you to become a teacher? I have just always wanted to be a teacher! I am the 6^th child of an 8 children family, so I always had nieces, nephews and foster kids to teach…much to their chagrin.
My best day in the classroom was when: I’ve had a lot those days with my current class. One day during an art class there was a huge mess and I look back and 4 of my students are mopping up the floor without even me asking them to. I often find these students being kind, charitable and proactive!
What’s your one must-have item for your classroom? Books!!!
If you could have one teacher superpower, what would it be? The power to enthrall all students to attention, so that they’ll listen and look at me when I’m teaching.
What was the last non-academic book you’ve read? The Fablehaven Series, which I haven’t read since last year! By the end of my day…I’m usually done with letters, words, reading!
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt? I would open my own healthy restaurant. I LOVE Food! And my husband is a Health Freak!
Have a question you’d like to ask your fellow educators? I feel like I’ve already asked so many questions of my fellow 1^st grade Team! They are AMAZING women and have so much experience and wisdom to share!

Teacher Spotlight: Miss Crowder - 2nd Grade

Up for our first Spotlight is our newest 2nd Grade teacher, Miss Crowder! Miss Crowder comes to us from Orchard Elementary! This is her 2nd Year of Teaching 2nd Grade...Because it's the Best! Miss Crowder was born and raised in Virginia. She comes from a family of 4 kids and graduated in Elementary Education from BYU...GO Cougs! (No Disrespect to all you Ute and Aggies Fans.)
Here are a few questions she answered for me during our interview!


Teaching Motto:
Inspire Children with the Love of Learning!

Who or what inspired you to become a teacher?
When I was in High School I worked in a Daycare and realized I loved working with children. Also my older sister Brittany is a teacher and she inspired me to become one.

My Best day in the classroom was when?
Last year when I was working extra hard on Math with my class; I gave them a quiz and ALL the students did well. Days like that are so rewarding for a teacher. To see the growth and improvement in your students is amazing.

What's your one must-have item for your classroom?
Diet Coke!


If you could have one teacher superpower, what would it be?
I would duplicate/clone myself so that I could be in more than one place within the classroom at a time!

Who was the last non-academic book you've read?
A Million Miles and A Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story by Donald Miller
"Very Good Book!"
  
What profession other than your own would you most like to attempt?
A Baker, because I love baking things! Or something to do with Crafts. Open my own Etsy Shop with stuff that I make!

Have a question you'd like to ask your fellow educators?
What's the secret to making your job work for you the best?

Thank you Miss Crowder for taking the time to letting us get to know you!

Think A!

Growing up my father used to always start off each school year with a chant: "Think A, Think A!" He told us if we think it, then we'll say it, then we'll do it. Unfortunately, our report cards didn't always reflect the A he so keenly hoped for. But Today...we can do a little dance for OUR School's A! Only 11% of schools actually received this glorious letter on their State Report Card! So spread the news! Tell your Spouse! Tell your Friends! Tell the guy Bagging your Groceries! Central Elementary School is Thinking, Saying and Doing A! GO TIGERS!!!

Click below to see it for yourself!
https://psdreports.schools.utah.gov/Gateway/Report/Display?schoolYear=2013&districtID=122&schoolID=139&schoolNumber=116&rc%3AParameters=Collapsed&rc%3AToolbar=False&ReportPath=%2FGateway%2FGradingSchools%2FFrontPage