Meet Mrs. Maria Fossler,

aka the "Happy Camper Teacher"

I'm excited you're here!  Let me tell you a little bit about myself.  This is my 19th year in Elk Grove Unified School District. I taught previously in the district from 1992-2005 at Leimbach Elementary and Sims Elementary Schools (Kindergarten through 4th Grade, Computers, P.E., and Spanish) before moving to Arizona in 2005. I taught there for a total of 12 years at schools in Mesa and Scottsdale in grades 5th, 4th, 2nd, and Kindergarten.  My husband and I moved back to the Sacramento area in 2022, and I am so grateful to be working here at Sunrise Elementary School.

I'm a mom to 4 adults; Travis aged 31 in Southern California, Dakota who's 30 living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Julia is 29 and lives in in Portland, Oregon, and Jesse is 28 and lives here in Rancho Cordova with his wife and their two children, soon to be three! My husband, Kristian, and I have been married for 24 years and we each brought two children into the marriage from our first marriages.  We understand the trials and tribulations of a combined family and the ups and downs of being step-parents and working with exes.  It was work, but SO WORTH IT!  We're looking forward to celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary next year! 

When I'm not teaching, I love to camp, enjoy the outdoors, watch the sun rise while sipping on my espresso, as well as read, garden, and do portrait photography.  In the fall I cheer for the Michigan Wolverines football team.  I was raised in a bilingual household (Spanish and English) in Southern California by my adopted parents.  My mother was from Cacalotán, Sinaloa, Mexico and my father was from Flint, Michigan (and yes, he worked for AC Delco when it was around).  They brought me home in April of 1967 when I was just 6 weeks old.  

I have taught Kindergarten through 6th grade and love each grade for different reasons.  I love the fact that I have taught all the grades because I know where students are coming from as well as what they need before heading on to the next grade level!

During my last year in Arizona, I was honored to be named Cochise Elementary School's "Charros Teacher of the Year."

I'm so very excited for this school year!  The Happy Campers will become better problem solvers and risk takers, they'll learn to take ownership of their learning, and they'll be model AVID students, as we all take on the 2025-2026 school year together, because, it takes a CAMPSITE (smile). 

One last thing about me and my teaching philosophy.  I believe in building a classroom community where students feel welcomed, safe, cared for, and valued.  I take pride in having a classroom that students have a vested interest in.  My students know that making mistakes, failing, or making a bad choice are all ways in which we learn and grow, and I provide a safe environment for this to happen in.

Once a Happy Camper, ALWAYS a HAPPY CAMPER!

Hugs & Gratitude,  Mrs. Maria Fossler