Grace Zirkelbach
Grace is a third generation native of Colorado. Her undergraduate degrees were in Education and Spanish. She followed up with a Master’s Degree in Linguistically Different K-12 from Columbia University Teachers College. Her education career started in DPS working with K-4th grade but was frequently interrupted because Grace and her family moved often with her husband Dave’s career and lived in Conifer, Denver, Florida, Denver, Paris and Belgium. She is thrilled to be living back in Denver and just retired from DPS. Grace spends as much time as possible in the mountains and on rivers and sometimes with her amazing daughters, Amanda and Milena. Grace is thrilled to be at Paddington in her dream school working for Deb and teaching your beautiful children.
The simplest reason that I teach is because I believe in the power of education to change lives.
However, it was my experience as an Outward Bound instructor that convinced me that through experiential education I could be an effective teacher and student. Learning has to come alive. Learning has to make a connection to make it stick. Learning has to be inspiring and it has to be fun.
Teaching has to be full of successes, messes, mistakes, constant wonderings and noticings, all wrapped up in joyful noise.
Teaching comes from the heart first and the standards follow. What I do in the classroom is guided by the kids every day. My time in the classroom is constantly motivating and happy.
I teach from the heart.
However, it was my experience as an Outward Bound instructor that convinced me that through experiential education I could be an effective teacher and student. Learning has to come alive. Learning has to make a connection to make it stick. Learning has to be inspiring and it has to be fun.
Teaching has to be full of successes, messes, mistakes, constant wonderings and noticings, all wrapped up in joyful noise.
Teaching comes from the heart first and the standards follow. What I do in the classroom is guided by the kids every day. My time in the classroom is constantly motivating and happy.
I teach from the heart.
