3rd Grade Homeroom Teacher
After living and teaching in Montana’s Flathead Valley for over a decade, Jodi and her family have returned to Missoula where she received her teaching degree in 1998. Her prior education earned her a double major in environmental studies and government from St. Lawrence University, a private university located just outside the Adirondack State Park in upstate New York. Jodi spent her childhood summers within the park where she developed her love for the natural world and a mountain lifestyle. It was this love that lead her to Montana where she has been ever since. When she is not teaching, Jodi spends time with her husband and two daughters exploring Montana and enjoying life.
What is your teaching philosophy? I believe that the three most important components of the learning environment are students, teachers, and community. At Sussex you will find engaged students, committed teachers, and a community tat is supportive of the learning environment.
Is there anyone in particular who has inspired you as a teacher? I have been inspired to teach by my parents and grandmother, all of whom were lifetime educators. I am also inspired when I look at the wide-open eyes and exuberant faces of my two young daughters as they begin to take in the world.
What is your most rewarding experience as a teacher? My most rewarding experiences happen outside the classroom in a field study environment. My students thrive when they are outside and learning.
What do you love most about teaching? My success as a teacher comes when I have inspired kids to want to learn and seek out challenges and rewards that an ongoing education offers to a curious mind. Although there certainly are knowledge milestones to achieve, it is just as important that students know how to learn and find the excitement and pleasure that comes from it.
What do you like to do when you are not teaching? When I am not teaching, I read, practice yoga, and spend time with my family exploring the outdoors of Montana.