Believe it or not, Mrs. Bupp is in her 15th year as an Instructional Aide to Mrs. Rodriguez. She grew up in Texas, where she attended college and then worked as a Physician's Assistant and a Retinal Photographer. In 1972, she moved to the Bay Area. Her son and daughter attended Burton Valley Elementary, Stanley, and Acalanes High School and are both now scientists! 

Mrs. Bupp was very involved in the classrooms for both her children during their time at BVE.  When they moved on to middle school, "she really liked the community and culture here and wanted to stay a part of it." BVE was fortunate that she decided to become a teacher's aide.   

Mrs. Bupp and her classroom teacher Mrs. Rodriguez both share a passion and fondness for nature. Mrs. Rodriguez encouraged Mrs. Bupp to create a California Natural History Program.  The children love it! One student said "I love how Mrs. Bupp teaches us about California Natural History. She took us on a nature walk and showed us some really cool things I never would have noticed if it weren't for her."  The students discuss what they see and then draw the items in a book that becomes a keepsake at the end of the year.  It is very helpful that Mrs. Bupp is an artist, sculptor and painter as well as a nature-enthusiast.   

Kyra Rodriguez notes, "I couldn't do my job without Mimi. What she adds to the classroom through her knowledge, gentle ways, and quick wit is unique. She is truly one of the kindest, most special people I know. As an instructional aide she works closely with each student and provides them with the extra support they all need." 

Principal Sue Rusk agrees, "Our partnership with LPIE and the support they provide our school is invaluable. We appreciate the commitment our community makes to ensure that our students receive a high quality education.  LPIE funds instructional aides to work in our classrooms alongside our teachers. Our aides provide instructional and clerical support for our teachers, allowing them with more time for planning and teaching. Our students benefit from small groups and one-on-one support from our instructional aides." 

As you walk onto the campus at Lafayette Elementary, you will notice that each classroom is run like a well-oiled machine. Students are excited because learning opportunities abound. This atmosphere is possible thanks to instructional aides.

"Aides assist the students and teachers with a myriad of small and large time-consuming tasks (everything from tying shoes and bandaging cuts to correcting papers and small group instruction) that allows the teacher to focus on teaching," notes Karen Johnson, aide to second-grade teacher, Mrs. Motes. Her presence in the classroom allows for differential learning: she works with individuals and small groups to provide clarification or extra hands-on practice.  

"With the many levels and individualized instruction within the classroom, Karen helps me meet the needs of all of my second grade students.  She helps me provide differentiated instruction each day and reinforces concepts or grade level material that has been taught or needs to be reviewed," explains Mrs. Motes. "I am so blessed to work with Karen Johnston each week!" 

Mrs. Johnson is a credentialed teacher who  holds a B.S. in political science and a Multiple Subject teaching credential.  She has taught grades five through eight in California and New Jersey, so she brings a great deal of experience and insight to Mrs. Motes' classroom.  She took a break from teaching to raise her three children and volunteer in their classrooms before getting back into the classroom herself.

"My youngest child had just started school and I was thinking of getting back into teaching and wanted to see how things had changed in the time I was not working. I didn't plan on staying this long but I really liked the time spent as an aide," she says. "Becoming an aide has provided many wonderful and rewarding experiences for me without taking away time from my family."

The 2014-15 school year marks the sixth anniversary of the partnership of Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Motes. Their long-term collaboration means Mrs. Johnson is familiar with her teacher's routine and style. She knows the students and is capable of carrying out the teacher's plans for that day when called in to substitute. This year, she is teaching "Do the Math" to reinforce new math strategies and runs the "Read Naturally" program to support reading fluency and comprehension among students as they progress through the Readers and Writers Workshops. 

"Meagan Hagglund is an amazing classroom aide! She creates a positive and safe learning environment for all students. She is an asset to the educational community and to each student's life she touches. I am so fortunate to share my classroom with such a kind and caring educator." Kathy Miller, Kindergarten Teacher at Springhill Elementary 

In her fourth year working with Mrs. Miller, it is very clear that Mrs. Hagglund enjoys her time as an aide in the kindergarten classroom. On any given day you'll find Mrs. Hagglund singing rhymes as her students jump rope. After each song, Mrs. Hagglund gives the students high fives as they get in line for another turn. 

Mrs. Hagglund started working with students early, getting a job at the local preschool while she attended Miramonte High School. She went on to study at UC Berkeley and graduated with a minor in Education. Confirming her passion for teaching, she got her multiple-subject Credential at Dominican College in San Rafael. Her first job was teaching kindergarten in Kentfield, CA before she chose to stay local and teach first grade at Burton Valley Elementary. One year later, she had her first daughter. 

She stayed home to raise her three girls until her youngest daughter went into first grade, and she was asked to work with Mrs. Miller as her aide.  

Mrs. Hagglund is passionate about her work, "Working with kids one-to-one is so effective at this age because kids can be 100% engaged--which can be hard at age five!"

Aside from one-to-one interaction, she can also pull small groups and use math manipulatives, work on writing using learned strategies or even play a game that is relevant to the unit the class is studying. She works with students in small groups so she is able to assess and give feedback. She feels lucky to be able to impact 21 kindergarteners' lives three days a week and blessed that kids make her want to come back year after year.

When asked if she'd want to be an aide for any other grade, she says, "Kindergarten is so important. I have a connection with the young kids. I love to be able to help kids grow from the very beginning and work with each student every day."

Thank you to Meagan Hagglund for being one of many fantastic aides at Springhill Elementary.