Dear Fifth & Sixth Graders,

Leonardo de Gecko and I are very excited to be a part of the MLAJA family this year. For the last couple of years, I’ve been teaching 5-8th grades in Hollister, CA but I’ve also taught in Dillingham, Alaska, and Portland, OR. I believe education should be fun, fair, and prepare kids to function in the world as adults.

Ms. Valerie Frizzle from the Magic School Bus was my childhood hero and I hope I embrace her motto of “taking chances, making mistakes, and getting messy” in the classroom. Hands-on learning is very important to me. I’m looking forward to the year ahead: dissections in science, simulations in social studies, learning to write research papers, and an archeological dig in the Bible.

I can’t wait to meet you in August!

Miss Laura Leeson