All About Mrs. Bisbee
I am not a teacher but an awakener. - Robert Frost
I grew up in Stockton, Illinois and graduated from Stockton High School in 2000. After graduation, I headed south to Davenport, Iowa where I attended St. Ambrose University (Go Fighting Bees!). While at SAU I had the opportunity to be a member of the Fighting Bees Dance Troupe and the church choir. I also was fortunate enough to travel to Ecuador for a month during 2003 to study Spanish. The culture in Ecuador was amazing and I am eagerly awaiting the day I can go back for another visit. In May 2004, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish.
After graduation, I headed west and took my first teaching job. I taught Middle School Spanish and coached the High School Cheer Squads in Lennox, South Dakota for one year. Both positions taught me a lot about being a teacher and a leader. The next year, I took a position as an Early Childhood Special Education EA at Brandon Elementary in Brandon, South Dakota and I loved every minute of it. The staff and children in the program were absolutely amazing. Again, I learned many new and fascinating aspects about being a teacher and about the way children develop. After spending a year working with the wonderful children in the Early Childhood program, I accepted a position as a 1st Grade/Reading Recovery teacher at Longfellow Elementary School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Longfellow is an ELL Centerbase school. While there, I was fortunate to teach children from multiple cultures throughout the world. I also became a certified Reading Recovery teacher and learned more about teaching beginning readers in one year than I had in my entire life! I spent three amazing years at Longfellow Elementary and made the tough decision to leave a staff I had come to know as family and accept a third grade teaching position at Fred Assam Elementary in the summer of 2009. While I knew I was leaving behind an amazing staff, I knew I was ready for another journey in my teaching career! I spent two years teaching 3rd grade at FAE and I am switching to 1st grade this year. Time for a new adventure! I have sincerely enjoyed working at FAE. Every staff member and student has come together to create a wonderful school family. I look forward to many years at FAE and working in the Brandon Valley School District!
As for my own family, I have a wonderful husband who is also a teacher! Jason "Mr. Bisbee" is an 8th Grade American History teacher at Brandon Valley Middle School. He is a busy guy and spends his time as a Varsity Football Coach and the Head 8th Grade Basketball Coach. We are the proud parents of Tristan David (11-17-2004), Adelyn Jean (1-4-2008) and Nolan Terrance (1-11-2010) and we feel very blessed!
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| Adelyn and Nolan cruising around the neighborhood - summer 2011 | Tristan at the Children's Museum in Brookings - summer 2011 |
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| Adelyn, Nolan, and Tristan - summer 2011 | The Bisbee family - fall 2010 |
