Hello! Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Elyssa Houtsma. I was born and raised in a small town in Iowa. After graduating from high school, I attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in History and Secondary Education. I also hold a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Clemson University. Go Tigers!
I have 20+ years of teaching experience and I am licensed to teach Social Studies, English, and German at both middle and high school levels in North Carolina, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota.
I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2004 and began my career in education with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. I have experience teaching at both the middle and high school levels. In addition to teaching, I also design and lead student tours around the world during the summer. I have traveled to 17 different countries multiple times while on these tours, which has provided me with a wide variety of experiences to talk about while teaching different topics in my classes.
In 2008, I accepted a teaching position in Munich, Germany. It was an amazing experience and a great opportunity to be a part of the education system of another country.
In 2009, I returned to Charlotte and worked in both the Gaston County School District and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District until moving from South Carolina to South Dakota.
In September of 2012, I married my husband on the beach at sunset on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and I am very excited about celebrating our thirteenth wedding anniversary together!
During the summer of 2014, my husband and I left Charlotte (but didn't venture far) when we built a brand new home in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Shortly after moving in, we purchased our fur baby, a Doberman we named Gunnar. He has grown to be an amazing (and very protective, yet spoiled) dog. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the summer of 2023, and he is still greatly missed.
In April of 2016, my husband and I welcomed our twin girls into the world. They keep us busy, and we love watching them grow, learn new things, and develop their own little likes, attitudes, and personalities! They are super smart, super sweet, and (in true Southern style) super sassy! Our girls will start 3rd grade this year, and I'm not sure who is more excited - me or them!
In 2020, I accepted my Social Studies position teaching geography and US History at Tea Area Middle School, and I am very happy to be a part of the Titan family!