I am thrilled to announce our September Teacher of the Month is Ms. Abbie Gunkel!
Abbie joined WES this fall and it did not take her long to jump right in and find her
groove at Westmeade. Ms. Gunkel worked hard the first several weeks to lay a solid
foundation with her team, students, and families. Abbie volunteered to tackle the
2nd-grade weekly newsletter. She worked to make it informative and cute all at the
same time. I know her team is appreciative of this task she completes each week.
Previously, Abbie taught 4th-grade math and science. It is evident in her classroom
lessons that she is already preparing her 2nd graders for strong mathematics
discourse. Her students engage using math vocabulary and within the first 2 weeks,
she was already challenging students to "justify" their answers and thinking. Not
only does Abbie display strong instructional content knowledge, but she also set high
student expectations for all students. Students enter the virtual classroom muted and
with their camera on. Ms. Gunkel is then able to greet her students and begin class
promptly. These procedures help outline her class time and set students up for
success.
Finally, Ms. Gunkel has done a fabulous job supporting parents during this
challenging time. She has come up with various ways to include all families and
accommodate specific needs within her classroom. Parents have reached out to the
administration to express their gratitude and thanks in Ms. Gunkel's willingness to
be flexible and make different situations work within her virtual classroom setting.
We feel so lucky to have Ms. Abbie Gunkel at Westmeade. Her positive attitude and
ready to help demeanor are vital during this trying time. Thank you for all you are
doing, Abbie! We are glad you are a WES Dragon!!