Hi! My name is Kelsey Haggerty and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself both as a person and as teacher.

I grew up in the Bay Area, received my BA in Liberal Arts from Sonoma State University, and moved to the Sacramento Area in 2013. I am a very creative person and love to learn new artistic skills or work on various craft projects. I love animals and have been known to bring in everything from baby ducks to garden snails into the classroom for students to observe. I also love to share stories and pictures of my adorable French Bulldog, with anyone who will listen. I enjoy working with children of all ages and love to share with them my love of nature, art, and science.

I have wanted to be a teacher from a very young age and have been working in the education field for my entire adult life. I am very enthusiastic about sharing my personal knowledge with others, as well as acquiring new knowledge and new skills of my own whenever I can. I believe a great educator must first be a great learner.

I chose to become a science teacher because I am passionate about cultivating curiosity in students and encouraging them to think critically and never stop asking questions about the world around them.

My teaching philosophy centers around the idea that all students have the ability to learn and that if they are provided with the right tools, environment, and support, as well as the confidence, all students can learn successfully and progress at their own pace. All students have their own personalities and learning styles, none better or worse than another, simply unique to each child.

Teachers, too, have unique personalities and teaching styles, and my aim is to use my own individual strengths to provide the right support for each and every student.

My personality, as well as my teaching style are very adaptable. I can often be reserved and contemplative, but when the need arises, I can also take on the role of an outspoken leader or helpful organizer. I adjust based on the needs of the people around me or the specific situation. I believe this to be an asset of mine as a teacher, as I can then adapt to the needs of each individual student or lesson. One day I may need to present a compelling and engaging lecture, and the next I may need to take a step back and let students explore, discuss, and reach their own conclusions. I feel confident in my ability to do this, while always remaining empathetic and open-minded to students’ needs and struggles.

I have enjoyed every minute of my current educational career, as well as my experience working towards my credential and I am so excited to begin my next step of having my very own middle school science classroom where I can help students see not only what is amazing about the world around them but also what is amazing within them.