All About Ms. Simpson

Professional Background

Graduated in 2013 from Fountain Fort Carson High School
Graduated in 2015 from Pikes Peak Community College with an Associates Degree in General Studies
Graduated in 2017 from Adams State University with a Bachelors Degree in English
Began my teaching career at Monte Vista High School in 2018

Hobbies

Reading (English teacher, duh)
Binge watching juicy Netflix series
Re-watching episodes of "The Office," and "Friends"
Collecting literally anything "Harry Potter" themed
Painting, drawing, sketching (follow my art pages on Instagram and Facebook! ---> Sketchy Acrylics)
Bike rides
Swimming
Yoga

Educational Pedagogy

We're all at different points in our scholarly pursuits, and that's okay!
Self-paced classroom structure + mastery-based grading = big gains for everyone
News Flash: there's some phenomenal literature out there from ALL backgrounds and walks of life
Kids need to see themselves in literature; diversity is KEY
Equity is not the same as equality
Compassion is always a more reliable classroom management tool than anger
Tough love, when dispersed correctly, leads to growth

Contact

The best times/ways to reach me include:
- Email: kates@monte.k12.co.us
- Remind (see a pdf how-to here)
- T/Th after school from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in room A205

On a more personal note...

Although I'm still a fairly new teacher, I believe this gives me an edge when it comes to relating to my students and building strong relationships. I use the relationships that I build with students to help teach them all year long. I love what I do, and the Monte Vista community and school district. I am a Valley native; I grew up just outside of town and attended elementary and middle school here before I moved to Colorado Springs in 2009. Despite the multitude of opportunities that I found in the city, the Valley has always been home to me. When it was time for me to pursue my four-year-degree, I could feel Adam's State calling my name. It was a dream opportunity for me to be able to teach in the home I grew up in, and I work every day to improve the community that I love. My main reason for becoming an educator was to make a positive impact on the next generations' hearts and minds, the way so many beloved teachers from my past did for me.

Outside of school, I love to chase my two daughters around with the love of my life. We enjoy family outings to the golf-course, bike rides around Alamosa, and family game/movie nights. My family means everything to me; they offer me love and support which allows me to continue building my teaching career.

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