Sullivan Elementary School

Quick reminder: If you signed up for classroom supplies with the PTO, they will need to be picked up between 4 and 6 pm in the Elementary School Lobby on Monday, August 14th.

Name: Kay Lehman Grade Level: Fourth Years of experience: 13 Hometown: Mattoon, Illinois Favorite band: Eagles, Alabama, and Little Big Town Favorite movie: Gone with the Wind Favorite sports teams: Reigning World Series Champs Chicago Cubs!! Chicago Bears! Favorite color: purple and orange Favorite subject: Reading Favorite teaching memory: Every time a former student sends me a note or comes back to visit me and tells me how much they loved being in my class in the fourth grade and how being in my class made them want to come to school each day. I love teaching because... there is no better feeling than when you see that lightbulb go on in a child's head when they " get it ". Their "aha" moment! What I want most for my students is... to love coming to school, feel safe, have fun, and to learn and retain something new everyday that will help them later in life.

Name: Mrs. Watkins Grade Level: 2 Years of experience: 3 Hometown: Forsyth Favorite band: Goo Goo Dolls Favorite movie: Matilda Favorite sports teams: STL Cardinals & Green Bay Packers Favorite color: blue Favorite subject: math I love teaching because I enjoy sharing my love for learning with others. What I want most for my students is for them to love learning and be excited to come to school each day.

Name: Shaun Schaefers Grade Level: General Music (K-2) Hometown: Aurora, IL Favorite band/group: Phantom Planet; Chicago Symphony Orchestra Favorite movie: Kicking & Screaming Favorite sports teams: Chicago Blackhawks Favorite subject: Music! I love teaching because... I get to help students learn how to do create art they might not have thought they were capable of. What I want most for my students is... to have a love for music and the arts.

Name: Haley Seeley Grade Level: Early Childhood Years of experience: 17 years Hometown: Bethany, IL Favorite band: I love music! Too hard to choose just one! Favorite movie: Home Alone Favorite sports teams: U of I; St. Louis Cardinals; Chicago Bears Favorite color: Green Favorite subject: Reading and Social Studies Favorite teaching memory: I absolutely love seeing former students years after I have had them in class. I always want to hear how they are doing in school, how their families are doing, what they have been up to, etc. I love teaching because... I love spending time with kids! What I want most for my students is... to look back at their time in school and remember it as being one of the best parts of their lives.

Name: Rikki Ray Grade Level: Elementary K-5 Years of experience: 22 years Hometown: Sullivan Favorite band: Aerosmith Favorite movie: Rocky Favorite sports teams: Cowboys Favorite color: Blue Favorite subject: Reading Favorite teaching memory: Starting a community-wide reading program at the suggestion of a student. I love teaching because... I get to make connections/relationships with kids of all ages. What I want most for my students is...to LOVE reading!

Don Typer k-5 Physical Education 24 years of experience Hometown: Polo, Illinois College: Eastern Illinois University Favorite Band: Eagles Favorite Movie: Man From Snowy River, The Quick and the Dead (Sam Elliott version) Favorite Sports teams: CUBS!!!, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks Favorite Color: Red Favorite Subject: Physical Education, duh! Favorite Teaching Memory: While singing with the music in the gym, my 3rd grade girls told me I should never try to be a singer. What I want most for my students is: To learn to live a healthy lifestyle, now and into the future.

Janice Althoff SLP. Pre-K through age 21 Experience: 29 years Hometown: Neoga What I want most for students is for them to reach their full potential

Name: Valerie Kalagian Grade Level: PK - 12 Instructional Technology Coordinator Years of experience: 24 Hometown: Sullivan Favorite band: No favorite but love anything country Favorite movie: Anything that can make me laugh Favorite sports teams: Bears Favorite color: Blue Favorite subject: Computers or Reading Favorite teaching memory: When my students' eyes light up because they finally get the concept they were working on learning. I love teaching because... I effect students' lives What I want most for my students is... For them to feel successful

Name: Chris Wilson Grade Level: 3-12 Music/Chorus Years of Experience: 7 Hometown: Birmingham, AL Favorite Band: too many I like equally Favorite Movie: Miracle, When The Game Stands Tall Favorite Sports Teams: Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs (no, I am not a "fair weather/bandwagon" fan), Denver Broncos, and anything Auburn University Favorite Color: Navy Blue Favorite subject: Besides music/show choir? Probably math. Favorite teaching memory: FAME Branson in 2015. We got first runner-up and qualified for Nationals. You would've thought we won that day. I love teaching because it gives me the opportunity to encourage and inspire students. It has always been a calling to encourage others, and this is the perfect way to answer that calling. I used to be a performer, and the only thing I love better than performing is watching my students love and enjoy what I do as well. What I want most for my students is to use music to allow them to grow up as better students and better people. I want them graduating knowing that music/show choir is what prepared them for life the most.

Poppy Ann Graham School Social Worker Years of Experience: 21 Bachelors Degree: University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign Psychology, Liberal Arts, Sciences Certificate in Mental Health Workers Program Masters Degree: University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign. School Social Work Program Hometown: Humboldt, IL Favorite Band: The Monkees Favorite Movie: Mary Poppins Favorite Sports Team: Sullivan Blue Dolphins Favorite Color: Blue Favorite Subject: History Favorite Social Work Moment: Being the good in someone's life. I love school social work because I love kids! What I want most is to empower kids and families to make positive change.

Name: Erin Donovan Grade level : aide for all grades Years experience : 1. Hometown : Yorkville IL. Education: Illinois State University (class of 2002) Favorite band: Fleetwood Mac. Favorite Movie : Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Favorite sports team: Cubs. Favorite color : blue. Favorite subject : history. Favorite memory : Watching chickens hatch with Mrs. Boyers class. I love being an Aide because I get to know students at all grade levels and seeing kids that have struggled be successful. What I want most for my students is for them to have confidence in themselves and respect for others.

Ann Sanner Office Secretary 30 years Hometown, Sullivan Favorite band: The Doobie Brothers I'm embarrassed that I'm a terrible sports fan, but of course I'll say I'm a Cardinals fan out of loyalty to my boss Favorite color: Red Favorite school memory: Hard to choose just one, but I'll never forget the child who came to school with something in her backpack that she wanted to turn in to the office. I expected a note from her mom, but when she pulled out a dead bunny that she had found on her walk to school, that was a first! I love Sullivan Elementary because it's filled with 500+ creative young minds who are making our world a better place! What I want most for our students and families: To know that the Elementary Office is a place that connects school and home. For parents to know that their children will be cared for and safe and that we are here to offer our help in making their child's school experience the best it can be!

Name: Whitney Smith Job: Reading Aide Grade Level: K-5th Years of experience: 3 years Hometown: Lovington Favorite type of music: Country Favorite kid movie: Beauty & the Beast Favorite sports teams: Green Bay Packers & St. Louis Cardinals Favorite color: Blue Favorite subject: Reading Favorite memory of working at the school: Anytime I get to hear new readers reading! I love working at the school because I get to work with students everyday and assist them on their educational journeys. What I want most for the students I work with is for them to succeed.

Name: Cindy Tarr Reading Aide/Title 1 Aide Grade Level:K-5 Years of experience: 7 Hometown: Sullivan Favorite music: Christian Favorite sports teams: Cardinals Favorite color: Blue Favorite subject: Math Favorite teaching memory: My favorite memory is working as a classroom aide in Mrs. Sinkler's kindergarten room my first year at SES. She taught me that it goes beyond teaching the material. It's about making a personal connection with the students. I love teaching because... I have the privilege of working with K-5 grade students. I love the range, I love the challenge, and I love the kids. What I want most for the students I work with is... to feel success, to feel confident, and to feel accepted.

Name: Jessica Reeder Grade Level: Assistant Principal and School Psychologist Years of experience: 7 years Hometown: Flora, Illinois Favorite band: Celine Dion Favorite movie: Dirty Dancing Favorite sports teams: Fighting Illini Favorite colors: Black and Hot Pink Favorite subject: Math What I want most for the students of Sullivan Schools is to be excited to come to school everyday and to feel like a contributing member of a larger community!

Name: Leah Fleming Grade Level: Librarian Years of experience: 3 years Librarian, 5 years total with the District Hometown: Effingham Favorite band: Paul Simon Favorite movie: Elf Favorite sports teams: St. Louis Cardinals Favorite color: Blue Favorite subject: I may be a librarian, but my favorite subject is math! Favorite librarian memory: Watching kids reactions to the books I read to them. I love being a librarian because, I get to interact with all 500 + students, work with some really awesome teachers and staff, and it gives me a creative outlet. Oh and books! Lots and lots of fun books! What I want most for my students is for them to leave the library excited to read the books they just independently picked out.

Name: Ashlee Florey Grade Level: Resource K-2 Degree: Bachelors of Science from Eastern Illinois University Years of experience: 8 years Hometown: Sullivan Favorite band: NEEDTOBREATHE Favorite movie: Step Brothers Favorite sports teams: Dallas Cowboys Favorite color: Orange Favorite subject: Reading I love teaching because I enjoy building relationships with students, and seeing their progress!

Name: Christine Grohler Grade Level: K-5 Cross Categorical Special Ed. Years of experience: 27 Hometown: Sullivan Favorite Singer: Adele Favorite movie: Breakfast Club Favorite sports teams: Favorite color: Blue Favorite subject: Reading Favorite teaching memory: I love teaching because... I love children and I love helping others. What I want most for my students is...for them to love themselves.

Leslie Guyot Resource Teacher Grades 1-5 17 years of experience Graduate of Illinois State University and Eastern Illinois University Bethany, Illinois Green Day The Great Outdoors Chicago Bears Blue Reading I have so many teaching memories that I love. The smiles, hugs, and laughter from kids just being kids. I love teaching because of that "light" that students get when they finally figure out something that has been difficult to comprehend or grasp. They find comfort and joy in knowing that they can accomplish something that has been a challenge, and continue to work to overcome obstacles. I want my students to love school, to feel supported and safe at school, and to work hard to accomplish their goals so they may have a bright future.