My name is Julia Urban and I am your STEAM teacher!! This will be my 13th year teaching! WOW! I taught fifth grade at Guy K. Stump Elementary School for five years, fifth grade at Clymore Elementary School for five years, and this will be my third year teaching STEAM! I love being a member of the Clymore family (Go Cardinals!!), and I look forward to working together as an amazing STEAM TEAM, and growing together this year!

A little background information about MY education: I graduated from James Madison University in 2009. Go Dukes! I majored in Interdisciplinary Liberals Studies and Elementary Education, and received a Bachelor of Science degree. I also went to JMU for graduate school and graduated in 2010 with my Masters in the Art of Teaching! I returned to JMU this year as an adjunct professor in the College of Education, and currently teach the Children and Science course to Education Majors! I LOVE working with preservice teachers and sharing my passion for educating and empowering students!

I am originally from Long Island, New York (eight hours from here!) I fell in love with the beautiful state of Virginia, and I simply had to stay! I live downtown Staunton and love it! I have a brother, John, and sister, Diane. My sister also graduated from JMU and teaches in New York, and my brother is in New York studying accounting and computer science. My dad was a high school science teacher (who inspired ME to want to be a science teacher), my mom worked with early childhood care, and I quickly learned that I too, wanted to teach! My family lives back on Long Island, and I love them all very much! My boyfriend Chad is from Montana, and he is the director of the Virginia Tech Pep Band and the assistant director of the Marching Virginians! Go Hokies!! Monte is our Boxer, and he is the silliest and sweetest dog in the world!

I LOVE teaching, and I LOVE to dance! I was on the JMU Dukettes Dance Team in college, coached during my graduate school year, and was the head coach of the team for six years! In 2015 and 2016 we won the National Championship Titles at our competition in Florida! When I was a member of the team, we danced at football and basketball games, performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade twice, and even performed in the New Year's Day Parade in Rome, Italy! I love to bring dance into the classroom, so get your dancing shoes on! :) I am also now a big fan of Virginia Tech, and I travel to all of the football and basketball games with the marching band, pep band, and my boyfriend, Chad Reep!

I also enjoy traveling, and seeing different parts of our country and the world! During my last summer vacations I visited Cuba, Las Vegas, Nevada, Missoula, Montana, Portland, Oregon, Long Island, New York, Nashville, Tennessee, and Richmond Virginia! I LOVE spending time with Monte the Boxer, speaking sign language, learning about different cultures, listening to podcasts, reading, and experiencing new things. I love food, and trying out different and new restaurants! Similar to my dad, science is one of my favorite subjects to teach! I love fashion, music, hiking, teaching using movement and music, binge watching television shows, doing yoga, and going to the movies! I also love to be creative, explore, write, draw, and sing! My favorite color is purple, my lucky number is 11, and my favorite snack is popcorn! I can’t wait to learn all about YOU this year!

**Please feel free to contact me at: jurban@augusta.k12.va.us We have a SUCCESSFUL year ahead of us, and I cannot wait for it to begin!

-Ms. Julia Urban

STEAM Specialist