Hi Parents, 

Welcome to the world of having a 2nd Grader! I am so excited to begin this school year together. One goal that I really strive for is transparency from my family to yours. I hear so much about your lives outside of the walls of Hyer and hope to form a bond that surpasses the 2024-2025 school year. With that said, I would love to share some of my "whys" and a little bit about my personal life so that you know about the teacher you are entrusting your kids with 7 hours a day! 

When I was in 2nd Grade, I fell in love with school! I started saving every single worksheet I did and kept them in a suitcase for years in hopes that someday I would have a classroom of my own! Sprinkled within our classroom library are some of those books that I loved dearly, especially the Nancy Drew Notebook series. It brings so much joy to my heart when my classroom becomes a place that students fall in love with reading or feel safe. It is so special to me that I get to teach the very grade level that made me love school! I still keep up with my second grade teacher 20 years later, and I would love to have students that 20 years from now continue to reach out to me. Please know that I intend on being a life-long resource for you and your family! I strive to form a partnership with each of you. 

In a world that is increasingly becoming fast paced, I value simple things. More so than assigning homework, I would encourage you to tell your child to go outside, get some vitamin D, and honestly just to be bored! Boredom is such a catalyst to creativity! If you are looking for a good resource as a parent, I highly recommend the book, "The Anxious Generation." Each child in second grade begins to form even more of who they want to be; creating spaces for them to explore and engage with others in unique ways is something that I intend to do. Your child is so much more than just academic achievements- they are people who are beginning to impact others! In my classroom, we have "morning meeting" every day where we learn how to shake hands, make eye contact, greet people, listen, develop character traits, and play games that we might not always win. Fostering a love for learning is one of my primary goals, but more so I want to foster their unique persona and help them reach their full potential. I also recognize that there are a million and one things to keep up with on top of school, I value your time and never want you to feel overwhelmed by tasks from the school. If at any point an email, dress-up day, unfinished assignment or test scores sends your blood pressure higher, please please stop and reach out to me! Work-life-family balance is vital. 

Growing up I remember seeing my teachers out and about and thinking "they have lives outside of school??," and while there definitely is a professional relationship between us, I also want to be someone who attends sporting events or recitals occasionally with your family, and that you feel comfortable approaching in the grocery store! Additionally, I will fill you in on things in my life when it is important. One thing recently that I would like for you to know about me is that my dad had a stroke on May 15th. I am an only child that is very close to my family although they live in Oklahoma. Because of the stroke, I was in Oklahoma the majority of the summer and do intend on going back several weekends throughout the upcoming months. His recovery has been nothing short of a miracle! When school ended last year there was little hope that he would ever walk and talk again, and now he has graduated from using a walker to a cane and continues to progress in speech therapy! My education background proved to be very helpful in retraining him how to read and write this summer- something I never would have anticipated! I also lost my best friend, and roommate of three years, to cancer in December of 2021. She was a teacher in Richardson ISD and she continues to inspire me everyday- the book on the back counter, "The Candy Jar" reminds me of her and how each day is a unique gift to us. While both of these experiences have been challenging, they also have emphasized why teaching is so important and how lucky I am to get to do what I do! I love to travel and talk to my students about my experiences abroad- one impact this has is showing them that even as a teacher I continue to learn and try different things outside of my comfort zone. All of that to say, I care about your family as real people and sharing about my life is one way that I show that, just as I love hearing about yours! 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and all you do each and everyday for your child. I truly feel so lucky to teach in a district where family matters as much as it does here. I'm looking forward to the 2024-2025 school year! 

With Grace, 

Kennedy Sanders