MEET YOUR TEACHERS
*click on teacher's name to email her/him*
3rd grade team
MRS. BLAINE - ROOM 32
Coming soon.
Mrs. CURLEY - ROOM 10
Coming soon.
MRS. DENNE - ROOM 9
Coming soon.
Mrs. LIBERMAN - Room 39
Classroom Website at http://mrslibermansclass.blogspot.com/
This is my 18th year teaching at Welby Way, my alma matter. My first few years I have taught 5th grade and 4th grade. However I have been teaching 3rd grade for the past 14 years. There are so many things that make this the most rewarding job on the planet. I always look forward to my daily interactions with students. As I get to know them, I learn the best ways to motivate and engage each student. I love helping my students become organized, self-sufficient learners. They come to school each morning eager to learn and face the challenges that each day brings. I encourage my students to take risks. I believe that children learn best in a nurturing environment in which they are comfortable sharing their ideas and are not afraid to make mistakes. They come to understand that making mistakes is a part of the learning process. A big part of our classroom community is participation in "The City." This is a fun way for the students to learn how to be dependable and responsible. Nothing is more rewarding than being a part of celebrating my students' successes and accomplishments!
I have wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a little girl. I was inspired by my 5th grade teacher to be the kind of teacher who really makes a difference in the lives of children. I received my Masters Degree in Elementary Education along with a teaching credential from Pepperdine University in 1999.
I am also a wife and mother to the two most amazing children, Max and Hallie. Being a mom is the most rewarding job! I love my family and enjoy every second we spend together. Other than family time, I enjoy spending time with friends, traveling, and sneaking in a few quiet moments to myself.
I have wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a little girl. I was inspired by my 5th grade teacher to be the kind of teacher who really makes a difference in the lives of children. I received my Masters Degree in Elementary Education along with a teaching credential from Pepperdine University in 1999.
I am also a wife and mother to the two most amazing children, Max and Hallie. Being a mom is the most rewarding job! I love my family and enjoy every second we spend together. Other than family time, I enjoy spending time with friends, traveling, and sneaking in a few quiet moments to myself.
MRS. MCLOUD - ROOM 38
Coming soon.
MRS. SILVERSTEIN - ROOM 15
Coming soon.
4th grade team
Mrs. Dant - Room 19
classroom website at www.mrsdantsclass.weebly.com
I have been teaching elementary school since 1996. I have experience teaching in all education levels from kindergarten to fifth grade. My love for science as well as art has developed a deep belief in integrating all subjects to engage students and help them become enthusiastic learners. I enjoy spending my free time with my husband and my two children. My interests include: photography, hiking, bicycling, music, and travel.
Mrs. Hassig - Room 26
Coming soon.
Mrs. hauser - room 25
Classroom Website at www.mrshauser.com
Hello Welby! I received my BA and Teaching Credential from California State University, Northridge. I have been working for LAUSD since 2003. Most of my time teaching has been in 4th grade. I have always wanted to be a teacher. When I was little, I would make my younger sisters pretend to be students so we could play “teacher.” I love 4th graders because they are curious about so many things! They are mature, enthusiastic learners and can have very intriguing discussions. On a personal note, I live with my husband David and our two children. My daughter is 10 years old and she loves to sing and write stories. My son is 7 and he enjoys creating buildings with Legos and telling jokes. They both attend to Welby Way as well! When I’m not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family. I also like reading, cooking, photography, technology, and art. Thanks for learning about me!
Mrs. Kearns - Room 18
Classroom Website at www.mrskearnsclass.blogspot.com
I am thrilled to be teaching at Welby Way Elementary where we have such a truly supportive and caring community of students, parents, and teachers. When I'm not teaching, I love to spend time with my husband, two children, and my dog, Owen. My children are college age and beyond and I just can't believe how time flies by so quickly. It seems like yesterday when they were in elementary school. When I look at the shining faces of this fourth grade class, I realize my students are a blink away from growing up and that makes my time with them very valuable. Each class is different and comes together in a unique way to create a community of learners making every day distinct, fun, and challenging!
I have taught second, third and fourth grades at several schools in the West Valley and am so happy to have landed here at Welby. I received my teaching credential from CSUN and graduated from Whittier College, a small liberal arts school right here in Southern California. Because I love the outdoors and exploring nature, I enjoy activities such as gardening, hiking and biking. I also love traveling and have a bucket list of fascinating places still to check off!
I have taught second, third and fourth grades at several schools in the West Valley and am so happy to have landed here at Welby. I received my teaching credential from CSUN and graduated from Whittier College, a small liberal arts school right here in Southern California. Because I love the outdoors and exploring nature, I enjoy activities such as gardening, hiking and biking. I also love traveling and have a bucket list of fascinating places still to check off!
mrs. GUTIERREZ - room 13
Coming soon.
5th grade team
Mrs. Gallo - room 27
Coming soon.
MrS. GRODZIENSKI - room 14
Mrs. Grodzienski grew up in Visalia, a small farming town in Central California. She still holds those small towns values that guide her principles including honesty, community, caring, integrity, and respect for one another; she expects this of herself and her students. Additionally, she studied and performed dance, music, and theatre, which led her to direct and choreograph musicals for children and her students. Mrs. Grodzienski’s teaching style is one of high expectations, student creativity, growth through challenge, and personal goal-setting.
Mrs. Grodzienski attended UCLA for her Bachelor of Arts in History, CSUN for her Teaching Credential and Master’s Degree in Education Administration, and has submitted the coursework to be a National Certificated Teacher with an emphasis in Literacy. She has been working in the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1996.
Mrs. Grodzienski enjoys her husband, 14 year-old-son, 2 dogs, and 1 tortoise. She is ecstatic to be a part of the Welby Way Community
Mrs. Grodzienski attended UCLA for her Bachelor of Arts in History, CSUN for her Teaching Credential and Master’s Degree in Education Administration, and has submitted the coursework to be a National Certificated Teacher with an emphasis in Literacy. She has been working in the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1996.
Mrs. Grodzienski enjoys her husband, 14 year-old-son, 2 dogs, and 1 tortoise. She is ecstatic to be a part of the Welby Way Community
Mrs. Slezinger - room 20
I have been teaching in LAUSD since 1990. I have a general education credential and a special education credential. I have taught students with Autism, worked as an Inclusion Facilitator, taught 5th grade at Welby Way for 8 years, 4th grade for 2 years, and am now happily back in 5th grade! Call me crazy, but I love 5th grade!
My goal is to give every student an opportunity to learn in a positive, nurturing classroom environment where they are comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. I have a strong background in positive behavior support and feel very strongly that children learn best in an environment they have control over and one where they have taken an active role in the creation of the system. Since lifelong success depends, in part, on self discipline, our class develops together classroom rules (Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, with Be Thankful and Be A Scholar added in school wide this year) It is based on positive rewards and has natural consequences built in.
When I am not teaching, I love spending time with my family and friends. I have four children. I used to spend my weekends watching my kids participate in sporting events, from soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball to pole vault and high jump, but all of my children are grown now. My 25 year old daughter, Hailey graduated from UCLA in June, 2012 and is serving in the Peace Corps, Ethiopia. She lives in a VERY small town called Bele, Ethiopia as an English Teacher Trainer. We were fortunate enough to be able to visit here last summer! She returns, after 27 months of service, on September 30th! Because she has friends there, we will have Ethiopian pen pals, and get to find out the similarities and differences we have! My 23 year old son, Porter, graduated for Cal, Berkeley in May, 2013 and just moved to New York with his girlfriend, Alyx! She is going to Columbia and he will be working for CBS as a yield analyst. My 21 year old daughter, Makenna graduated from UC Santa Cruz in June, 2014! She has an amazing job as a consumer insights analyst in Los Gatos, and even has a zipline at her work! My other 25 year old daughter, Kaleigh graduated from CSUN in May, 2014 with a BA in Movie and Television and is working for a Post Production Company in Burbank! I am very proud of my kids! I am pretty lucky! It is very quiet around our house now, so I am trying to find a new hobby. Right now I am trying stained glass and hiking!
My goal is to give every student an opportunity to learn in a positive, nurturing classroom environment where they are comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. I have a strong background in positive behavior support and feel very strongly that children learn best in an environment they have control over and one where they have taken an active role in the creation of the system. Since lifelong success depends, in part, on self discipline, our class develops together classroom rules (Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, with Be Thankful and Be A Scholar added in school wide this year) It is based on positive rewards and has natural consequences built in.
When I am not teaching, I love spending time with my family and friends. I have four children. I used to spend my weekends watching my kids participate in sporting events, from soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball to pole vault and high jump, but all of my children are grown now. My 25 year old daughter, Hailey graduated from UCLA in June, 2012 and is serving in the Peace Corps, Ethiopia. She lives in a VERY small town called Bele, Ethiopia as an English Teacher Trainer. We were fortunate enough to be able to visit here last summer! She returns, after 27 months of service, on September 30th! Because she has friends there, we will have Ethiopian pen pals, and get to find out the similarities and differences we have! My 23 year old son, Porter, graduated for Cal, Berkeley in May, 2013 and just moved to New York with his girlfriend, Alyx! She is going to Columbia and he will be working for CBS as a yield analyst. My 21 year old daughter, Makenna graduated from UC Santa Cruz in June, 2014! She has an amazing job as a consumer insights analyst in Los Gatos, and even has a zipline at her work! My other 25 year old daughter, Kaleigh graduated from CSUN in May, 2014 with a BA in Movie and Television and is working for a Post Production Company in Burbank! I am very proud of my kids! I am pretty lucky! It is very quiet around our house now, so I am trying to find a new hobby. Right now I am trying stained glass and hiking!
Ms. Stern - room 28
CLick here for clASSROOM WEBSITE
It’s hard to believe (looking at how young I look in this profile pic) that I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years. It must be true what they say: Time flies when you’re having fun! The most fun so far has been my last few years, teaching 5th grade here at Welby Way. I love the sense of community and family we have at this school, and it’s precisely the feeling I strive to achieve in my classroom each year.
When I’m not busy with school, I enjoy being active. A few summers ago I even hiked Mt. Whitney, which was an adventure I will never forget. My latest passion is fostering dogs from the shelter, nursing them back to health, and then finding them loving forever homes. It’s always hard to say goodbye to my foster pups, but seeing them happy and healthy gives me great joy and satisfaction. (Art by Isabella M. Class of 2017)
When I’m not busy with school, I enjoy being active. A few summers ago I even hiked Mt. Whitney, which was an adventure I will never forget. My latest passion is fostering dogs from the shelter, nursing them back to health, and then finding them loving forever homes. It’s always hard to say goodbye to my foster pups, but seeing them happy and healthy gives me great joy and satisfaction. (Art by Isabella M. Class of 2017)
Mrs. Tallas - room 17
So what is Mrs. Tallas all about...tough question but I am sure I can fill you in on a few things! I received my degree and teaching credential from CSUN and have been teaching ever since. I am currently on my 16th year teaching and I still love it to this day! I knew from a very young age that I would work with children and that they would be the reason that I loved to get up each and everyday. I am married to a wonderful man named, Mr. Tallas and I have three beautiful daughters, Alexandra, Analyssa, and Addison. Alexandra and Analyssa are off in college and Addison is lucky to come to work with me each and everyday as she is a student at this wonderful school! I love to run, workout, drink coffee, read, complete brain teasers, and travel with my family. We have been fortunate to have visited many great destinations and look forward to our upcoming travels. My favorite color is red however, I do love bright colors as well! I love the beach and just recently discovered that I enjoy camping! Hmmm, I guess that is me in a nutshell but once you crack me open there is a whole lot more to learn! I look forward to a great school year and cannot wait to hear of all your adventures and goals. :)