About Me
Born and raised in Elmwood Park, I finished my Bachelors in Elementary Education at National-Louis University and my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Olivet University. I taught first grade at a private school in Oak Park for two years, and began teaching at Elmwood Elementary in 2002. At Elmwood I have taught various grade levels including first, fourth, and fifth grade. I am the proud parent of two wonderful children, Madison and Brennan, and I believe that having them in my life has made me a better teacher.
My Philosophy
School should be a safe place where children feel that they belong. It is my job to teach them the things that will help them be successful in their future. I believe that school is more than just the subject matter, it needs to be about the child. It takes families, teachers, and the community working together to make each child's education a success.
Homework
Homework is a review of what we are working on in the classroom. If you find that your child is having difficulty completing homework in an approriate amount of time, please contact me so we can come up with a solution. If your child is missing homework, I will notify you each time by writing a note in the assignmnent book that gets signed daily. Children missing assignments will complete their missing work during recess.
Grades
All grades being entered into my grade book can be viewed using the schools online grade book. As a parent, this is a great way to keep track of your child's scores. I will also send home homework packets to be signed so that you can see the actual graded materials.
Contact
If at any time you have any questions or would like to talk, there are a few ways that I can be reached. You can write me a note in the assignmnent book. I check them at the start of every day, so I will get back to you a.s.a.p. You can email me at lestert@epcusd401.org. I check my email when I enter the building in the morning and at least one more time during the day. If it is an emergency, please call the school office at (708) 452-3558 and they can relay the message to me. I look forward to working with you this year!