Meet the Teacher

As 7:40 approached on Monday the 23rd, I found the nervousness in my stomach intensifying.  This is my 9th year of teaching and I still get nervous and have nightmares as the first day of school approaches.  This year was no different.  I always wonder how this year will be different from last year and what changes I will need to make.  I wonder what kind of students will darken my doorway and look to me to lead them.  I wonder how parents will feel about my style of teaching.  I wonder, I wonder, I wonder.  As usual, we all got through the day just fine and NONE of my first day nightmares came true!  Now, if I could just remember this feeling next year.......

My name is Sarah Riley and I am in my 9th year of teaching.  I started my teaching career teaching 2nd and 3rd grades at Simon Kenton Elementary in 2001.  Soon thereafter, the Springfield City Schools cut 70+ teachers.  I, being so new, was teacher #4 to lose her job.  Since it was next to impossible for me to be rehired in that district, I interviewed at South Vienna Middle School for a 7th grade writing position. I was blessed to become part of that family as many of them have been such an encouragement to me both professionally and personally.  After one year of teaching writing, I had the opportunity to teach science instead, and being a self proclaimed "science-nerd", jumped at that chance.  But, teaching science never filled the void left when I lost my position in the city.  I loved having my own class of 20-some students (not 120+ like in the middle schools) for whom I could individualize education.  In August of 2009, a 3rd grade position at Rolling Hills opened up.  It was the mother ship calling me home.  I applied, interviewed and offered the position about 2 weeks before school started.  I have never regretted my decision to leave the middle school.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVED that age (really, I did!), but really wanted to return to the elementary level.  So, here I am, your child's teacher, dedicated to teaching your child.

Every year, regardless of the students that are in my class, my teaching philosophy remains the same: 

Each child is uniquely gifted.  Each child comes to me with his or her own strengths and weaknesses.  One type of teaching does not reach all and if a child struggles to learn when I teach, I have to change my teaching so that child can learn.  I commit to each of my students to individualize his or her education to the best of my ability.  

Personally, I have been married for 9 years to a wonderful and supportive husband!  I have two kids, Jackson (3 years) and Isabel (11 months) who are my world.  I never knew how deeply I could love until I had my kids.  I graduated from Shawnee High School and received my Bachelor's of Education from Wright State University.  In 2005, I received my Master's Degree from Marygrove College.  Currently, I am taking classes to obtain my Principal's License from the University of Dayton.  In my spare time, if I have any, I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, playing golf and watching football.  I follow, hard-core, the Cleveland Browns football team and root (as a good Browns fan does) them on, despite all the poor past seasons.  Finally and most importantly, I am a Christian and spend much of my time serving at my church.  

I am so thankful for each of my students and look forward to a wonderful year that is full of learning!  Please feel free to contact me via phone, note, or email at any time.  I also welcome each of you into our room to volunteer your time helping out in our class or simply observing what we do on a daily basis.  I know that I can't do all I do without your assistance!  You know your child better than I ever will and I welcome the chance to talk with each other about how we can support your child's education!