Welcome to my website!  My intention is to update it monthly.  I am very excited to be teaching your children this year! I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself. This is my 17th year teaching at Paradise Canyon.  I taught first grade my first two years here then moved to kindergarten where I stayed for 14 years and am now back in first grade!  I grew up in La Crescenta and graduated from CV High. I received my bachelor's of science degree in child development from Cal State Fullerton and received my multiple subject teaching credential from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. My first year teaching elementary was in first grade up on the central coast in Atascadero which is a little town just north of San Luis Obispo. I soon married my high school sweetheart and started a family. My three boys were born up on the central coast but we decided to move back to our home town after we had twin boys so that we could be closer to family. I quickly got a teaching position at PCY and have been blessed to work there ever since. After working for several years my family welcomed a baby girl to make us complete! So I have 4 wonderful children and a wonderful husband who helps to make our family life run smoothly. We even have a little dog named Peanut. I enjoy reading and drawing. For the past few summers I have taught cartooning for the ALF summer school program and just love it.  Last year I taught a new class that I had developed called Recycled Art where we took items that could be recycled and made them into works of art! I truly loved the kindergarten grade level but am so excited to be back in first grade! It will have its challenges but it's exciting to see how much students grow throughout the year. They are being introduced to many new concepts in all academic areas as they embark on this new adventure of more reading, writing, science, technology, math, and so much more! It's amazing to watch them learn. I feel very privileged to be a part of that experience. I will be sending out weekly letters by email to update you on the happenings in our class. Please look at this site for monthly important dates. I encourage my families to email me if they have any questions or concerns (sgardner@lcusd.net) or send a note in or even call the school to leave a message and I will return your call. I look forward to working closely with you and your child this year to ensure success for all my students! It's going to be a WILDLY ADVENTUROUS year!