Hello! My name is Shaila Zimmerman, and I am delighted to be teaching third grade this year! I had an exciting summer full of adventure, including getting married in Iceland! You may still see my maiden name, Burgess, on a few early emails or forms. 

For the past two years, I have loved being a part of the Ascent community—first serving in the front office, and most recently as the third-grade apprentice teacher. Before joining Ascent, I spent over a decade working with children in early childhood education, where I served as a pre-kindergarder teacher, kindergarten teacher, assistant director, and director of an Early Childhood Center. My hobbies include photography, fly fishing, camping, and rock hounding. In my free time, you will find me by the river enjoying the fresh mountain air. 

I am absolutely thrilled to partner with you and your students this year in pursuit of the true, the good, and the beautiful! Third grade is a magical year filled with deep exploration. In literature, we will dive into wonderful classics like Farmer Boy, Black Beauty, and The Jungle Book. In math, we will tackle exciting milestones like multiplication and division, while our science and history lessons will take us on journeys exploring our natural world, the early exploration of North America, the Vikings, and so much more. It is going to be a wonderful, growth-filled year. Thank you so much for entrusting your beautiful children to me!  I look forward to a great school year.