I am so excited to be part of your final year at Summit View Elementary.  Summit View is a very special place for me.  My mother was the librarian here for 26 years - the infamous Karen Forbes!  I volunteered/worked in the library and in various roles around the building every summer from 7th grade through graduating college, as the schools were year-round then.  I even completed my student teaching here in 4th grade.  Last year I came back to Summit View as an EA with SSN. I am thrilled to be back in the classroom to teach science, social studies, and spelling to the entire 6th grade this year and then move up to Mountain Ridge next year.

A little about me, I was born in Michigan, returning frequently to Grand Rapids to visit family. I lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a few years, and explored much of the history of the south with my cherished Girl Scout troop. My family moved to Colorado when I was in 7th grade.  I had the fortune to witness first hand how Douglas County schools evolved as I attended Cresthill Middle School and graduated from Highlands Ranch High School. 

I knew from a young age I wanted to be a teacher.  I moved on to higher education and earned my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education but came back to Highlands Ranch for my student teaching.  As I moved forward with working in the local schools, I went on to further my education with post graduate work.  I earned my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction while working full-time in the classroom.  

I have a broad range of experience within the schools having been an Elementary Librarian as well as teaching first grade and third grade in DCSD. While I was home raising my kids, I worked for a small company, spearheading training and support for an on-line accounting module. I joked that I went from teaching 7 year olds to teaching 70 year olds.

My husband and I have been married for 23 years and have four children, a dog, and more fish than I want to count.  Inara is in 10th grade at Mountain Vista and starting to drive! Joiya is in 8th grade at Mountain Ridge and enjoys baking sweets and spending time with her friends. Liana is in 5th grade at Summit View and entertains us regularly with her dancing and silliness.  Merek is in 1st grade at Summit View and loves building with Legos and playing video games with his sisters.  We love to escape to the mountains when we get a chance, to enjoy all that Summit County has to offer. 

I appreciate a little grace as I get my feet back on the ground in a classroom setting. Please keep communication open with me if any issues arise at home that may impact your child at school.  The best way to reach me is by email: hbrandt1@dcsdk12.org. 

I have an AmazonWishList with items that would enhance our classroom experience, if you are so inclined. If you have the time and opportunity to volunteer in person, I could definitely use help with Thursday Folders each week, and possibly for help with Science experiments.  I will reach out for science assistance when the time comes.

Looking forward to an amazing year!

Heather Brandt