Meet Mrs.Baldyga

Hello! Although I was born in New York and raised in Texas, I have spent quite a bit of my life in North Carolina. I earned my undergraduate degree in English at Wake Forest University, and after a detour to California where I earned a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction, I moved back to NC with my family twelve years ago. My husband Rich and I have two children (Rachael, 17 & David, 12) and we rescued a puppy (Stout) at the start of the pandemic. He's now an 80-pound wimp.

I have taught several grades over the past 16 years (K-2, 4-5, 7-8) and I can honestly say that 8th grade is the place for me. I truly enjoy helping my students prepare for high school and it is such fun to watch them come into their own as teenagers.

My interests outside of school include reading (of course!), writing, spending time with my family, and traveling. I look forward to hearing about my students' families, hobbies, passions, and questions about the world around them.

FUN FACTS: 

• I was a scholarship tennis player at Wake Forest and I played on the satellite pro circuit after college...but I didn't make any money. 😁 

• I have lived in 6 states (New York, Connecticut, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia & California) and I have visited 33 of our 50.

• I have traveled to England, Australia, France, Mexico & Puerto Rico and I have many more destinations on my travel bucket list!

• My favorite literary genre is historical fiction, but I also like mysteries and biographies.