About the Teacher & Contact Information

Phone: 619-579-7233

Mrs. Gillespie in 3rd Grade

Introduction:

Growing up, I would have never guessed I had a passion for teaching children. In fact, after high school, I pursued a Bachelor's of Science degree at San Diego State University where I graduated with a degree in Business Management. Toward my Senior year, however, I came to realize I was doing college wrong. I felt I had a desire and an attraction toward education and the classroom. I looked up to teachers and felt a sense of energy in any classroom environment. That being said, I was in my Senior year and finished my degree. I entered the world of Human Resource Management, where I simply felt unsatisfied.

After having my first daughter, I became a stay-at-home mom. As my girls became school aged, my attraction to teaching got stronger. I would consistently volunteer in their classrooms, become room mom to find any reason to be in the classroom, and finally becoming a substitute teacher.

I have been a substitute teacher at Literacy First Charter School for 4 ½ years, 1 1/2 years substituting in various long-term positions. It was through that experience, I discovered that I needed to make my passion for teaching children a full-time endeavor. I earned my California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and my Master's in Education with a specialization in e-Teaching and Learning in 2017 through National University.

I have been married to my wonderful husband for 25 years and have 2 amazing daughters, a Freshman at UCSD studying BioChemistry and Dance, and a Junior at UCSD studying Cognitive Science and Dance. Additionally, I have a daughter who lives in Montana, and has blessed us with two grandbabies, and a son (also a teacher) who married, who is also a teacher, and has also blessed us with 2 grandbabies. Our family is completed with our two cats Jasmine and Katniss (Kat for short). In my free time, I enjoy taking tap dance classes, reading and crafting.