Utah Online K-5

 

Row 1:  Andrea Charlton, Tara Criddle, Gloria Kelly, Julie Baggaley, Summer Johnson, Kathy Erickson, Jen Larsen, Me.  2nd row:  Deanne Stratton, Julie Morales, ( new Sped teacher) Mindy Taylor, Paula Finlinson,  Jessica Everett, Jacklyn Kofford, Sariah Harris. Row 3:  ( 4 Speech teachers) Chris Maxwell, Hollie Bybee, Brooke Brown.  Row 4;  Laura Belnap, Sara Souza, Annett Eiting, Carolyn Black and Audra Roberts.

This is my K-5 team for Utah Online.   It's a great bunch of people and I'm so grateful for this job.  One of the best decisions I ever made was becoming a teacher.  I have been an online teacher for 17 years.  I miss my time in the classroom, but serving the different families over the years, watching students grow and learn AND being able to work with such amazing women, it has all been worth it.  

We all showed up one day with our animal print on....and of course, we had to have a girls gone WILD pic.

  

What makes our school so great is the culture.  We all bring different talents and expertise to the table and we all feel valued.  We are not shy on complimenting and helping each other.   We take the time in our weekly staff meeting to share a bit of our lives.  IT takes time, but it's worth it to connect.  Our admin is the best...Laura Belnap and Annett Eiting really take care of us, and really go to bat for us with the district and finding the best curriculum to help our students.

Being an online teacher has many advantages:

1.  Get to be in charge of my own schedule -- I work when I work and just have to get my job done.

2.  Able to help so many families that traditional school didn't work for. 

3.  Keep up with and learn new technology

4.  Get to brainstorm and try many different things to see what works in this setting.

5. Trips to St. George and other fun places like San Antonio, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Denver etc... for ISTE- technology summits.