Welcome and thanks for viewing my teacher page on our high school web site.

I have been teaching at SJHS since 2005. Prior to that, I taught English for eleven years in two Chicago area school districts and in Boston. I moved to St. Joseph in 1999, and for five years I taught summer writing classes and worked year-round with students on SAT and ACT preparation and on college application essays.

Currently I teach three classes a day at SJHS, and I'm involved in curriculum projects and long-term planning for K-12 English Language Arts. I also conduct workshops and offer one-on-one coaching for college application essay writing.

My teaching philosophy is this: I believe in pushing students, showing them what they can accomplish.  With effective instruction and support, they can do amazing things.  I continuously remind them that though they live in a small town, they live in a global world--and they need to be prepared for it.  I will encourage them to know their world, become informed, think critically, communicate effectively, work hard, learn every day.

When I'm not working with students, I'm usually swimming, sailing, reading, traveling, walking the beach, and spending time with my kids, Christopher and Annie, and my husband, Brian.

Education:

University of Michigan, BA English, 1987
University of Michigan, Secondary Teaching Certificate, 1987
University of Chicago, MA English Education (curriculum writing specialty), 1993

Class Schedule:

1st Hour: College Writing
2nd Hour: College Writing
3rd Hour: English 9

Contacting Me:

The best way to contact me is through e-mail which I check twice daily. You may also reach me by phone during lunch (11:15 - 11:45); however, if I am out of the room, I would prefer an email message rather than a voice mail message. Feel free to contact me at home in the evening (983-4671).

Please plan to visit my pages often to remain up to date on homework and class expectations.

Best Regards,

Bean Kinney Klusendorf