How long have you been a teacher?

I started teaching in California City, CA, in 1995. At the end of the year, I packed my car and moved to Las Vegas. It's hard for me to believe I've been here for over 20 years. Time has gone by so fast!

What grades have you taught?

I have taught first, second, third, and fourth grades. I was a Reading & Math Intervention Specialist for a year. For the past ten years I have been a GATE Specialist (Gifted and Talented Education).

As a part-time instructor for Nevada State College's School of Education, I teach literacy (EDRL 442) and social studies (EDEL 453) classes for pre-service teachers.

Where did you go to college?

I went to the University of Southern California for a year and then transferred to Cal State Northridge where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child Development.  I earned my teaching credential at Cal State Bakersfield and my Master of Education degree from Lesley University.

What's your email address?

My email is powelke@nv.ccsd.net.

You can also send me an email message with this form.
If you would like a return email, make sure you include your email address.
If you don't have an email address, leave that line blank.

What do you like most about teaching GATE?

There are lots of things I like about being a GATE Specialist. These are the first five things that come to mind... 
  1. GATE kids keep me on my toes!
  2. I like working on projects that last for a while, and we do a lot of projects in GATE.
  3. My students are with me for about an hour at time so I work with lots of kids every day.
  4. I like helping kids understand what it means to be gifted, and how to use their talent in positive ways.
  5. It's fun to plan units with teachers and other GATE specialists.

What is your proudest accomplishment as a teacher?

I am always proud of what my students' accomplish. Hearing that they have been chosen to receive an award or scholarship is so exciting!
 
When my hard work and dedication is recognized by other teachers it is also a great feeling. In 2005 I became a National Board Certified Teacher (Early Childhood Generalist). As a NBCT I am very reflective and thoughtful about teaching. I am constantly trying to improve how I teach so I can help my students grow and develop to their fullest potential.

Why do you have so many Disney things?

Disney characters make me smile so I have Disney in my classroom, on our website, and all around my house. I bring Disney into our projects and activities because we can all relate to Disney. Everyone knows Mickey Mouse, and most of us have a favorite Disney character... or a favorite Disney movie.... or we can talk about a trip to Disneyland. In school, when we're comfortable with a topic, we get excited about it and more involved in class activities. Excitement sparks curiosity and creativity and those qualities are always welcome in my classroom.

Where did you get such cute Disney clip art?

I purchased most of the clip art for this website from a shop on Etsy.com called Swirly Color Pixels. The digital paper I used for the page headers was purchased from two other Etsy shops: Shop With Sara and Sonya DeHart Design. 

Can I use your ideas in my classroom?

It is quite a compliment that you would like to use the ideas that are on my site! Please make sure you give credit where credit's due. If you have a website or class webpage, please offer a link back to mine.