Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to a new school year! I hope your family enjoyed a relaxing and fun summer, and that your child is feeling excited and ready to dive into learning.
Since I’ll be working with your child one day a week this year, I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself to those of you who may not already know me. I grew up in Peru, New York—a small town on the shores of Lake Champlain, just south of the Canadian border. I earned my B.S. in Applied Economics from Cornell University and a few years later received my M.Ed. in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College, which launched my teaching career.
Over the years, I’ve taught third and fourth grade in Massachusetts and Georgia, and spent five wonderful years in Vermont, where my husband and I owned a small inn. While there, I also taught a multiage fifth/sixth grade class and became a mom to my daughter, Madigan. We eventually returned to Atlanta, where I’ve spent most of my teaching career at Morningside. In 2012, I earned an Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership from Piedmont College alongside several MES colleagues, and in 2015, I added my Gifted Endorsement. During my years at Morningside, I have been a 4th grade teacher and also a teacher on the Gifted team. This will be my 29th year in education—and Madigan, who went through Morningside, Inman, and Grady, just graduated from UGA this past May! Time truly flies.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my dog, fostering dogs, traveling, and staying active. This summer included a relaxing beach trip, and the past year included many weekends in Athens cheering on the Dawgs and celebrating my daughter’s senior year milestones.
As a teacher, I believe in setting high expectations within a supportive and engaging learning environment. My goal is to create a space that is challenging, positive, and fun, where students are encouraged to think deeply, take risks, and give their best effort each day. I also believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential to student success. I look forward to working together with you to support your child’s growth and learning throughout the year.
I’m thrilled to be part of the Gifted Team again this year and look forward to an exciting and enriching year with your child!
Warm regards,
Kristen Duncan
(krduncan@atlanta.k12.ga.us)