Welcome to 5th Grade. My name is Amy Coughlin and I've been a teacher at PRES since 2007. Prior to that I was in advertising, so I'm a career changer. I graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor's degree and went on for my masters at Fordham as well.
I was introduced to Bedford by my husband, Chris Coughlin, who worked in Bedford for 20 years. I was lucky enough to travel to Spain and then Italy with 50+ juniors and seniors from FLHS. The students were so articulate and well-rounded. I was so impressed that I knew I had to be part of Bedford's community of learners.
My husband and I have three children. This is a huge year for us. Our oldest daughter, Molly, is a 9th grader. My middle daughter, Casey, is an eighth grader in middle school. Finally, our son, Patrick, is a fourth grader in elementary school. All three kids attend Ridgefield Public Schools. They love many different sports. This year both girls are playing field hockey and Patrick is excited for another season of flag football. We love to spend time as a family, such as taking walks with our dog, watching movies, playing pickleball, and having family dinners.
I absolutely love 5th grade for so many reasons. Firstly, fifth graders are the oldest in the school so they are independent and love to be leaders. Setting a positive example is so important and fifth graders love to take on this role. Fifth grade is such an important year because we want to make sure that students have the skills and support needed before they transition off to middle school.
Making learning fun, engaging and impactful is so important to me. A huge emphasis is put on building a LOVE for learning. We do this by making learning student centered where learning is built through a felt need. Students will problem solve and learn through discussion with others. Students will learn to take risks and understand that making mistakes is how we learn!
Fun Fact:
- If you drive through Ridgefield, you might see me walking my dog, Daisy, with my husband and three children so please say hello!
- traveling is one of my favorite things to do with my family!
- I'm an avid runner, swimmer, and love Pure Barre
Looking forward to a fantastic year!!
Hi there! My name is Joan Spector and I'm so excited to welcome you to 5th grade! I have been an educator since 2008; I spent 5 years teaching 4th grade in CT before taking some time off to be home with my kids. I was fortunate enough to join the Bedford Central School District in 2022 as a 5th grade teacher. I'm so happy to be able to call PRES my home! I was first introduced to Bedford in 2007 when my husband, Jason, began his education career at Fox Lane High School. Now we both get to call BCSD our home away from home! I graduated with my B.S. in Childhood Education from LIU Post and later obtained my M.S. in Educational Technology from ECSU.
Creating a warm, welcoming, and safe learning environment is at the core of what I do. I strive to make our classroom a place where you feel accepted and valued for who you are. We'll celebrate our successes together and work through challenges hand in hand. No one will feel left out or alone because, as a family, we support and uplift each other.
A little more about myself - I live in Brookfield, CT with my husband and two sons. We love being outside and spending time together. We enjoy swimming in our pool, going on family bike rides, and hiking or skiing our favorite trails in Vermont. I'm an avid reader and also enjoy baking.
5th grade is your time to show everyone what you've accomplished during elementary school. I look forward to leading you through your most exciting year yet in 5S!