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!!