Welcome to
Torrey Hills School
Torrey Hills School
Attended UCSB and have taught 4th, 5th and 6th grades.
Multiple Subject Teacher with over 26 years of teaching experience.
Email: swilken@dmusd.org
School Phone: 858-481-4266 Extension 3708
As a fifth grade teacher I am a co-learner, mentor, coach, and community navigator and connector. I want to develop engaged young learners that are active inquirers, problem finders/initiators, problem solvers, collaborators, and empathetic community members. To move towards developing these type of learners I aim to create student centered learning experiences that push students to explore their own critical thinking through using visible thinking routines. I use thinking routines that encourage each student to move their thinking forward in new and exciting ways that will deepen their understanding and build connections to our diverse classroom community and the greater world around them. Our classroom is a place to build connections, ask questions, actively participate in our learning, be a part of team of thinkers and a place to ignite curiosity.
I am a second generation native San Diegan. My parents still live and reside in San Diego. I am father first and foremost, and enjoy spending time with my own children outside of school. Both are former Torrey Hills Hawks, and they both have fond memories of attending our school. I love the outdoors (fishing with my son or by myself, hiking/camping and riding my road bike, or spending time on the water -surfing and swimming). I enjoy listening to all types of music and have been known to attend concerts and performing arts in my free time away from our school. I also love cheering on the San Diego Padres or San Diego State Aztecs after school, I have often contributed to community by serving as a coach in youth sports (football, softball/baseball, rugby) or through volunteering locally (American Cancer Society). I live in Del Mar/Torrey Pines and really enjoy my time living near the ocean and you might even find me down on our beautiful beaches on the weekends taking a hike or in the water. I recently took up sailing and so I try to find a couple weekends a month now to sail.