My name is Shaine Junso, and I teach 7th Grade Social Studies at Hellgate Middle School. I was born and raised on Bainbridge Island, WA, and moved to Missoula, MT, in 2015, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in K-8. Additionally, I graduated in 2024 with a Master of Arts in Reading in K-8. I have worked in classrooms from Pre-K to 8th grade over the past 10 years. 

This past spring, my husband and I welcomed our son, Wes, into the world. We spent the summer learning a lot about Wes, introducing him to our loving community, and soaking up the baby snuggles. We have two dogs, a Golden Retriever (4 y.o.) and a Silver Lab (3 y.o.) who keep us very busy too! In our free time, we love to read, hike, explore good food around Missoula, or visit our family from St. Ignatius all the way to Baker, MT. 

I believe that all children should have a safe and inclusive space to develop social-emotional skills, core education, a growth mindset, and practice critical thinking in a literacy-rich environment. All children are unique individuals who deserve a comfortable space to express themselves and learn to celebrate who they are while building an appreciation for the ongoing learning experience that life gives us. 

My classroom management style is rooted in the 3 C's: connection, consistency, and compassion. When students are learning in my class, they will see consistent expectations, structure of learning, and procedures. The content in 7th-grade social studies will allow students to frequently make connections to the present day, their personal life experiences, and other learning content areas. I believe everyone deserves grace and compassion, especially when learning new information. My teaching approach is rooted in compassion for the diverse types of learners, backgrounds, and individual people that enter my classroom.