HoJo's Teaching Adventures

Heather (or HoJo as she is known around the web) has PreK-6th grade experience. She has taught Kindergarten, Reading Recovery, Title I math and reading, 5th grade inclusion special education, and a multi-grade classroom of ELL students. She was also the overseer of her first school's special education department. Then she served as K-6 Elementary Principal at two schools and district K-12 Special Education Director. . . Heather used to teach students from Asian countries during the evenings, weekends, and summer using Skype and other online tools, Through this experience, she has taught students from age 6-20. . . Finally {and perhaps most importantly}, HoJo is a work at home mom to two precious children. It's different not going to school each day, but they bring her more joy than she ever could have imagined! . . Thank you for supporting HoJo's store and therefore supporting her little family!

HoJo's teaching style varies depending on the students in front of her. She uses a lot of visuals, differentiated instruction, and centers whenever possible. HoJo's colleagues often joke that she has a work hard, play hard attitude. She's the type who expects a lot of hard work from her students, but she will be the first to recognize that hard work and find a fun way to incorporate play into the school day.

The South Dakota Department of Education chose Heather to attend a national standard setting committee in New Jersey in February 2011. A panel of roughly 20 experts helped determine the new cut off scores for the next PLT Praxis exam. Heather also served on a panel of South Dakota educators to determine the new principal evaluation system in 2012-2013. It was very humbling to be one of only four teachers on a panel of administrators and other professionals throughout the state.

Heather graduated from undergraduate school in May 2007 where she received a teacher certificate in Elementary and K-8 Special Education. Heather has a minor in Reading and Kindergarten education. She also has endorsements to teach Middle School Math, Reading/Language Arts, and Science. She can coach any sport in elementary and middle school and holds a varsity basketball endorsement. Finally, Heather has a K-12 technology endorsement. In May 2009 Heather graduated with a K-12 Educational Administration & Leadership degree. Heather served as a trained Reading Recovery teacher during the 2009-2010 school year. During the summer of 2010, Heather took certification coursework to become a Reading Specialist in the state of South Dakota.

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