Sunday, May 18, 2014

Meet Karen Peterson, Tiffanie Kasner, Julie Mori, Shshawna Rader, & Judy Caraang!

Karen Peterson
“I have not failed.  I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas Edison

Previous School:
Rancho Bernardo High School

Previous Assignment(s):
High School Registrar

What is something you’ve always wanted to try? 
Travel to Europe

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
Of course…

Tell us about your superpowers.
Organization

Favorite Board Game
Backgammon

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
The people – big ones and little ones!   The chance to be part of something that will make the world so much better for our kids!

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Dependable

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
Helping this team!

What is you totem animal?
Dog

Dream vacation spot
Europe

Favorite font
Tahoma





Mrs. Tiffanie Kasner
"If you always do what you've always done, you always get what you've always got."

Previous School:
Monterey Ridge Elementary School

Previous Assignment(s):
Kindergarten

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?  
Skydiving/ Scuba diving  (There's just something about jumping into the "unknown" that intrigues me!)

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
Always!! And...eat with them with my fingers!

Tell us about your superpowers.
Interior Decorator/Stylist 

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
The idea of educating/inspiring children with really knowing what drives "their" interests and who "they" are!

Who let the dogs out?
Definitely...The cats!!

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
Seeing my students achieve a sense of confidence to attempt anything.

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?
Mariana Trench

What line or shape do you identify with? Circle, square, triange, squiggle, ellipse
~ Squiggle all the way!!





Mrs. Julie Mori
"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid" ~A. Einstein


"Imagination is MORE important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited; IMAGINATION encircles the world" ~A. Einstein

Previous School:
Mesa Verde Middle School


Previous Assignment(s):
8th Grade Science

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
Sky Diving

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
YES! Yummy little trees!

Tell us about your superpowers.
Imagination; Playfulness; Willing to Try; Computer Nerd, Being Mom

Favorite Board Game(s)
Monopoly, Rock'em Sock'em Robots; Jenga

Storms - Cool or Scary?
Very Cool...especially with Thunder and Lightening

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
Flexible instructional setting, Technology; embedding creativity, collaborating and thinking.

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Enthusiastic

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
The lasting relationships with students, their families and the community

Favorite font
Century Gothic




Mrs. Shshawna Rader

"Map out your future, but do it in pencil." - Jon Bon Jovi

Previous School:
Oak Valley Middle School


Previous Assignment(s):
Resource Specialist

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?Play the guitar

Tell us about your superpowers."Illumination and humorphology" as quoted by a student and a friend

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?An opportunity to learn with students

Who let the dogs out?My three-year-old who unlocks everything

What makes you laugh?People laughing

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?Energetic

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?When a child says to me... "See Mrs. Rader, you can do this too!"

Dream vacation spotRocky Mountains...on a warm summer day by a riverbank

What line or shape do you identify with?Ummmm... squiggle




Mrs. Judy Caraang

"You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose." Dr. Seuss

Previous School:
Park Village Elementary School


Previous Assignment(s):
1st Grade


What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
Run a race (maybe a 5K)

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
yes

Tell us about your superpowers.
Hula dancer, baker, enjoying photography, learning to play the ukulele

Favorite Board Game(s) 
Battleship, checkers

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
Teaching and learning with "like" minds, leading the change in education, 1:1

Who let the dogs out?
Whoo whoo whoo whoo

What makes you laugh?
Listening to my husband and sons reenact parts of movies, commercials and favorite shows

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Generous

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
I can make a difference

What is you totem animal?
Right now, probably the snake as I'm in the middle of transitions; most of the time, the deer

Dream vacation spot
An over the water bungalow in Tahiti

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?
Outer space to explore the planets and stars

Favorite font
Comic Sans

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Meet Danny Manalo, Kate Stanley, Kelly Eveleth, & Brenda Gillies!

Mr. Danny Manalo

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."  - Robert Frost

Previous School:
Mesa Verde Middle School

Previous Assignment(s):
6th Grade

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?  
Being on the show "Survivor" or "The Amazing Race" for just one episode.

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
I don't like broccoli, and broccoli doesn't like me.

Tell us about your superpowers.
Playing musical instruments (especially the keyboard), four-wheeling, motorcycle/ATVs

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
Collective Force of Risk-Takers Centered on Student-Learning in new and creative ways.

What makes you laugh?
Situational comedies where everything that can go wrong does.

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Jack-of-all-trades

What is your totem animal?
Ram's head

What line or shape do you identify with?
Dodecahedron - many sides to me

Favorite font
Arial 12 point, blue, bold and italics





Mrs. Kate Stanley
“Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel."  ~Pablo Picasso

Previous School:
Monterey Ridge Elementary School

Previous Assignment(s):
Kindergarten

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
Teaching and living abroad

Tell us about your superpowers.

I love teaching literature and social sciences.  I am passionate about art, and using art with the learning of core subject areas.  I love about connecting with each student individually, differentiating and personalizing instruction to meet the needs of all learners.  

Favorite Board Game(s)

I have been playing Rummikub with my family since I was young.  

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?

I am so excited to work closely with other teachers, parents, and students to innovate and personalize education for 21st Century learners.  

What makes you laugh?

My kids, just like my students they are full of humor and wit!

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?

Poised

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?

I find my most rewarding moments come when I witness my students' passions for learning come alive.  I live for the "a-ha" moments.

Dream vacation spot?

Anywhere with a beach and without an agenda

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?

I think it would be amazing to take a field trip into our own brains.  We would all be fascinated by the inner workings of our minds. 

What line or shape do you identify with?

An ampersand. Why? I am always open to possibility, and find myself looking for the "and," the what's next in each day.  

Favorite font 

American Typewriter





Mrs. Kelly Eveleth
"The secret to change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."  - Socrates

Previous School:
Willow Grove

Previous Assignment(s):
5th Grade

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?

I would love to travel the world with my family.

Tell us about your superpowers.

Being a mom, playing sports, creating art, working with kids

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?

We have the chance to do something very different.  I'm excited to let kids explore their areas of passion and learn at a level and in a way that makes the most sense for them.

What makes you laugh?

Kids are hilarious.

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?

Creative

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
When kids are fascinated by learning and so excited to go further and learn more. 

Dream vacation spot

I would love to travel through Europe.

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?

I would take them back in time to see dinosaurs.

Favorite font

Depends on the purpose.  Nothing too cute.  I'm always looking for unique, creative new fonts.





Mrs. Brenda Gillies
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. " - Dr. Seuss

Previous School:
Del Sur Elementary School


Previous Assignment(s):
5th Grade

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?

Sailing

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?

Not often

Tell us about your superpowers.

I love reading, small groups, whole class, read alouds, book discussions. Trying new things, looking at situations from different perspectives.

Favorite Board Game(s)

Set, Qwirkle, Suspend

Storms - Cool or Scary?

Cool

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?

The potential to change school!  The amazing people & the positive energy they generate.  Knowing that working together we will create limitless opportunities for learning.

Who let the dogs out?

Me - every morning. ;)

What makes you laugh?

My daughter

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?

Playful

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?

Relationships with students, seeing them learn & grow

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?

Everywhere!  Our first trip would be to Sequioa National Park.


Meet Tiffany Castillo, Kriscia Cabral, Megan Power, & David Fritch!

Mrs. Tiffany Castillo

"People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do."  - Isaac Asimov

Previous School:
Monterey Ridge


Previous Assignment(s):
3rd Grade

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
A macaron

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
Yes, yum

Tell us about your superpowers.

Organizing, dancing, singing in the car, eating, and mothering

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
The possibilities

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Easygoing

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
The moment a student "gets" it, and I was there to share in their joy. 

What is your totem animal?

A WOLF! 37%

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?
Space

Favorite font:
DJ DOODLERS






Mrs. Kriscia Cabral (Kris-see-ya)
"Just Dance"  - Lady Gaga!
"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud"  - Maya Angelou

Previous School:
Highland Ranch


Previous Assignment(s):
4th/5th Grade

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?Playing football with pads. Seems like so much intensity and passion in every play!

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
My son and I do like an Apatosaurus (no utensils, just mouths #whatever it takes)

Tell us about your superpowers.
Joy is my superpower! I look for the bright side in all that I meet. I love to encourage. I love to dance especially TAP ...and flash mobs are so exciting! I love soccer. I love creating digital stories. Totally into quotes- they inspire me! Writing is my passion. Music sings stories in my heart. Big fan of the 90's and all things Pop Culture. Football and Baseball sports talk.

Favorite Board Game(s)
Popomatic Trouble (love the sound of the popping machine) Although I always wanted Mouse Trap as a kid- still haven't tried it

Storms - Cool or Scary?
So cool. I love the sounds.

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
Absolutely everything! The people the most, but the opportunity to change the world, #incredible

Who let the dogs out?
Probably my husband. He hates having a dog inside our house :(

What makes you laugh?
Conversations in general (With my own children, classroom children, and even with adults). Sarcasm always gets me. Animals that talk is the funniest thing.

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
Smiles on faces. Watching someone learn something new is a feeling like no other. Being a part of that learning, seeing the lightbulb shine bright.

What is your totem animal?
Not into animals, I do like ladybugs though.

Dream vacation spot
Somewhere that has lots of shade.

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?
On a learning adventure. I would ask them where they would like to go, then fulfill the request of each student along the way.




Mrs. Megan Power
"To believe you can is everything"
I love inspirational quotes. Here is a simple one I had on my way as a kid!

Previous School:
Del Sur Elementary School

Previous Assignment(s):
Kindergarten

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?Skiing/snowboarding and traveling more to see the world

Tell us about your superpowers.
Believe that anything is possible, Facilitate young students to create amazing learning experiences, Believe the best in people, Passionate about many things, Inspire others

Favorite Board Game(s)
Any that makes my kids smile. Seeing my 3 year old's joy of playing Twister with Mommy, hearing his vocabulary grow playing Headbandz, and hearing his laugh when the buzzard goes off in Operation are priceless.

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
The people and the possibilities!

What makes you laugh?
My children and other little kids comments & discussions

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Passionate

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
The kids! Letting them figure out how important they are and how much they can do to make a difference in the world!

What is your totem animal?
Monkey

Dream vacation spot
Bora Bora or Tahiti 





Mr. David Fritch
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." - Frederick Douglass

Previous School:
Oak Valley Middle School

Previous Assignment(s):
6th Grade

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
To be a part of an archeology dig.

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
Yes

Tell us about your superpowers.
I believe my greatest superpower is building relationships.  I enjoy getting to know people and find out what their talents, and dreams are and helping them make the most of them.

Favorite Board Game(s):
The old favorites: Scrabble and Monopoly

Storms - Cool or Scary?
Way cool!  I am from the Midwest....storms rock!

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
That we all have the opportunity to create something unique and special!  We are making change in education.

Who let the dogs out?
No dogs....just grown kids.  :)

What makes you laugh?
I can find the humor in most everything, but love when people can feel comfortable enough to laugh at themselves, that in turn makes me laugh.

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Dependable

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
Helping kids navigate the awkward stage of life called middle school!

What is you totem animal?
Grizzly Bear


Dream vacation spot:
New Zealand



Monday, April 21, 2014

Meet Matt Sterling, Lisa Collins, Kyle Asmus, & Stacey Lamb!

Mr. Matt Sterling

"The man who views the world at 50 the same as the did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life."  -  Muhammad Ali

Previous School:
Morning Creek

Previous Assignment(s):
5th Grade

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
Skydiving - just waiting for the Groupon!

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
As long as they're roasted or covered in cheese.

Tell us about your superpowers.
Meeting kids at their level with their interests, Tinkering with Apple products, Sports, Anything competitive (just ask Tiffany), 90's trivia (especially Saved by the Bell)

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
The students - the fact they are choosing to come to us!

What makes you laugh?
Nothing's better than the songs my daughter makes up.

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Spontaneous.

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
The connections with kids.

What line or shape do you identify with? Circle, square, triange, squiggle, ellipse
Ellipse, because it's not just a shape, it's a punctuation mark.
Anything but Comic Sans. Anything.







Mrs. Lisa Collins
"Because nice matters."
"Fair is whatever it takes for you to be successful."

Previous School:
Willow Grove

Previous Assignment(s):
5th Grade

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?

Snowboarding or parasailing

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
No!

Tell us about your superpowers.

I am a great team player, I am comfortable in front of a crowd.

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?

I am excited to do school differently and to allow students to be creative in their own passions.

Who let the dogs out?

The earliest one up!

What makes you laugh?

Personal stories about each other's trials and tribulations. 

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?

The kids who smile, who trust me with their thoughts and feelings and hopes each day.

What is your totem animal?

A cat

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?

Around the world to the seven wonders of the world

Favorite font

Comic sans or anything with dots





Mr. Kyle Asmus

Previous School:
Oak Valley Middle School

Previous Assignment(s):

Science, Math

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
To play the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?

It’s food, so yes.

Storms - Cool or Scary?

Scary - they have the power to hurt or harm animals, people, and their habitat or home.

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?

Having kids who love learning and love coming to school.

Who let the dogs out?
I think the Baha Men?

What makes you laugh?
My daughter’s laughs

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?

Selfless

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?

The relationships!

Dream vacation spot

The roof of Apple Headquarters on January 30, 1969 or any other habitable planet besides Earth

What line or shape do you identify with? 

The triangle because they are found a lot in bridges and I like bridges.

Favorite font

Ubuntu because it's a silly word and it is "a quality that includes the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity."






Mrs. Stacey Lamb
"It is better to light a candle, than to complain about the darkness."

Previous School:
Willow Grove Elementary School

Previous Assignment(s):4th Grade



What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
Experiencing zero gravity

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?

Absolutely.

Tell us about your superpowers.

Problem solving, puzzles, engineering

Storms - Cool or Scary?

Mostly cool, unless I'm stuck in it, then scary.

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?

All of the people, big and small

Who let the dogs out?

Definitely me.

What makes you laugh?

My puppy. Constantly.

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?

Calm, intelligent

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?

Kids, kids, kids.

What is you totem animal?

An eagle

Dream vacation spot:

African Safari

If you had a Magic School Bus, where would you take your students?

The Galapagos Islands

What line or shape do you identify with? Circle, square, triange, squiggle, or ellipse?

Squiggle for sure







Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Meet Bret Fitzpatrick, Abby Robles, & Sonya Wrisley!


Mr. Bret Fitzpatrick, Teacher
"Ignorance is curable... With knowledge!"

Previous School:
Oak Valley Middle School

Previous Assignment(s):
6th & 7th Grade Science & Social Studies
Project Lead the Way (Design and Modeling, Automation and Robotics, Energy and the Environment)

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?  Driving a Formula 1, Indy, or NASCAR car.

Tell us about your superpowers.
I'm a builder. I like to solve problems. I'm a bringer-togetherer. Making connections. Listening. Almost any sport that involves frozen water. A doer, expediter. Passionate seller of what I believe is awesome.

Storms - Cool or Scary?
Super Cool

What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
Changing the world, one learner at a time...

What makes you laugh?
Tangential thinking. Double and triple entendres.

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Loyal

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
Kids who return to tell you that you made a difference in their lives.

What is your totem animal?
River Otter

Dream vacation spot:
A conversation with the Dalai Lama, in an over-the-water house on a tropical island.

Favorite font:
Verdana BOLD italicized - it looks fast



Mrs. Abby Robles, Teacher
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi

Previous School:
Del Sur Elementary School

Previous Assignment(s):
2nd Grade

Tell us about your superpowers.
I make kids feel really confident in themselves. I'm also driven, flexible, and audacious (I have no problem looking like a fool in the name of learning or fun).

What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
Skydiving or knitting a scarf


Storms - Cool or Scary?
I live in San Diego....what are storms?


What excites you the most about Design39Campus?
The people!!!


Who let the dogs out?
They found a hole and snuck out on their own.


What makes you laugh?
Human awkwardness and animal videos


What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?

Knowing that I mean a whole lot to a small number of small people makes me work REALLY hard. 


Dream vacation spot
A sharkless beach with warm clear water



Mrs. Sonya Wrisley, Principal
"Do one thing every day that scares you." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Previous School:
Oak Valley Middle School

Tell us about your superpowers.
Working with people. Sports. Facilitation. Dreaming and creating.

Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
Yep

Favorite Board Game(s)
Balderdash

What excites you the most about Design39Campus? The people and the possibilities

Who let the dogs out?
My husband

What is one word that your friends would use to describe you?
Fun

What is most rewarding about your job; what makes it all worthwhile?
Working with all the people

What is your totem animal?
Owl

Dream vacation spot
Triple Creek Ranch, Montana

Favorite font
Arial. Clean and not fussy.