Although my name may sound new, I am not new to Erickson School. This past June, I got married and changed my name. My maiden name was Miss Plecki, and I used to teach third grade. I am really looking forward to joining the fifth grade team of teachers and meeting all the families and students in fifth grade. I know this year is going to be great!
Mrs. Clasey's Favorites
Book: Harry Potter series and Wonder School Subject: Math Fast Food restuarants: Jimmy John's, Portillo's, Arby's Pizza: Lou Malnati's or Monicals Color: Green Ice Cream Flavor: Strawberry Sport: Basketball Sports Team: Chicago Cubs and Jacksonville Jaguars Season: Summer Hobbies/Activities: Swimming, traveling, watching sports, reading, and spending time with family and friends
Educational Experiences
I am from Champaign, Illinois and attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where I majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in Spanish. I graduated in May 2009, and I am certified to teach grades K-9 with special middle school endorsements in Spanish, Language Arts, and Social Studies. In addition, I have a Spanish endorsement for grades K-4.
This year is my second year at Erickson. Before Erickson, I taught for five years at White Heath School, part of Monticello School District. I student taught fourth grade at Windsor Elementary School in Arlington Heights, Illinois during Spring 2009. In the fall of 2008, I student taught in second grade at St. Joseph Grade School, in St. Joseph, Illinois. In addition to my student teaching experience, I worked for four summers as a teacher and coordinator (2009) of the enriched summer camp (grades K-6) at Next Generation School in Champaign.
In the spring of 2008, I studied abroad in Costa Rica for four months where I took Spanish language and culture classes to receive my minor in Spanish. I also had the opportunity to volunteer in a local elementary school where I taught English to 2nd and 6th grade students. In addition, I lived with a host family during the weeks which allowed me to practice my Spanish-speaking skills and learn about Central American culture. On the weekends, I traveled around Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama to churches, museums, national parks, rain forests, volcanoes, and beaches. This was such an amazing and rewarding experience.