Ms. Tomke
HHS Teacher
"The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” ~ Mark Twain
“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ~Stephen King
“You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” ~ Ray Bradbury
The number/code under the period is the Google Classroom Code to join our class.
My Schedule:
1 Period ~ English 10
2 Period ~ Office/Planning
3 Period ~ Office Hours
4 Period ~ English 11
5 Period ~ English 10
6 Period ~ Office Hours
7 Period ~ English 10
8 Period ~ Planning
Education:
University of Iowa ~ BA English
Regis University ~ Teacher Licensure
Notre Dame de Namur University ~ MA English
Contact Information
Email: ktomke@k12.k12.co.us
Office Phone: 303-347-7621
My preferred means of communication is email.
A little bit about me...I grew up in Mason City, Iowa, and received my BA in English from the University of Iowa. After college, I moved to Denver, CO, and attended Regis University for my teaching licensure. I was fortunate enough to get my first teaching job at Heritage after student teaching at South High School. After teaching here for two years 1998-2000, I moved to the Bay Area in California. I stayed there for six years through the boom and bust of the Dot Com industry. I taught at Tracy High School for one year and then Santa Clara High School for five years. I missed being a student and went back to earn my MA in English from Notre Dame de Namur University -- it was wonderful to be in the classroom as a student again. I also was a lecturer at the university for summer sessions. While at Santa Clara, I stayed busy by: coaching Swimming and Diving, advising the California Scholarship Foundation, Ping Pong Club, Department Chair, Literacy Liaison, Culture Diversity, Understanding by Design, Planning Team and Block Schedule. I was chosen for The Robert M. Thorson Teaching Award my last year at Santa Clara; recently, at Heritage, I have been honored with the Boettcher Teacher Recognition Award and the Coca−Cola Educator of Distinction Award.
The move back...after having my daughter, I decided that I missed Colorado and would like to raise her here. Coming back to Heritage has been awesome. I missed my friends here and the close community we enjoy. In 1998-2000, I coached Boy's Swimming and Diving and the State winning Liberty Belles; I miss coaching but I keep busy with my daughter (and grading essays). I have taught the gamut of classes: English 9, English 9 honors, English 10, American Literature, American Literature Honors, Media Literacy, California High School Exit Exam Review, Creative Writing, AP Literature and Composition, and Spelling & Vocabulary. Currently, I teach English 11 and English 10. I also was a visiting Lecturer at my alma mater NDNU for three summers.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, eating at new and different restaurants, traveling (I've been to 11 countries and 49 states - I'm looking at you Alabama) and any sports.
