Meet the Teacher

Hello! My name is Mrs. Kasten. I am thrilled to be teaching third grade at Middleton!  I grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and I went to college at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign.  In 2017, I completed my Master's Degree in Educational Technology. I taught fifth grade math for three years in the Chicago Public School system and this will be my eleventh year teaching third grade at Middleton. 

I have three sisters and one brother.  My family loves to travel and we enjoy staying active.  We also enjoy going to Wrigley Field to cheer on the Chicago Cubs. My husband, Patrick, and I like to spend our weekends outdoors with our three children, Bobby (6 years), Connor (3 years), and Mary Grace (1 year).  They enjoy the beach and playing at the park.

In my classroom, I challenge the students to be leaders.  It is important that the students hold themselves accountable for their actions and the learning that takes place every day.  My goal is for every student to grow both academically and socially. The students will become familiar with many Kagan learning strategies and structures throughout the year.  Kagan Structures are instructional strategies that are designed to promote collaboration and boost communication in the classroom. I look forward to meeting all of you soon. By working together as a team, we can have a great impact on your child’s development and make sure that they have a successful year!