Think back to when you were a student, back-to-school shopping, finding your classroom, and the exciting lessons that would soon fill your day. The first day of school jitters that were calmed by the friendly, welcoming face, and celebrating the “ah ha” moments when you finally figured out how to solve the problem. Then there was the time in kindergarten, when you went to the restroom but couldn’t remember the way back to your classroom. As panic set in, that friendly face walked around the corner and they knew exactly where your classroom was. These champions make math exciting and words come to life through reading and writing, they stood beside you and cheered as you mastered kickball, that difficult note, or the masterpiece that needed a little finesse. Although everyone’s school experience was different, teachers are the common thread throughout classrooms and schools. They are the first to welcome you to a new class, they spend extra time working through a challenging problem, and they give you a high five when you accomplish your goals.
St. Vrain is the proud home to nearly 2,000 teachers who spend their days preparing our students for the future. Join us in celebrating our teachers and learn what they enjoy about teaching, why they became teacher and what their favorite memory is from the days they spent as a student in the classroom.
Thank you to all of our teachers.
Getting to know:
Sarah Bernau
First Grade
Mead Elementary
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
My biggest joy of teaching is watching my 1st graders’ reactions when they learn something new, and helping them see that they can accomplish great things with hard work and perseverance.
Briefly tell us about the path you took to becoming a teacher?
I knew early on that I wanted to be a teacher. I went to Illinois State University because it was a teaching college. Their motto was, “And gladly would he learn and teach”. After graduating I moved to Colorado. I spent one year substituting in the St. Vrain Valley School District, and then began teaching first grade at Mead Elementary. It has been my great fortune to continue teaching first grade at Mead Elementary for the last 28 years.
What is your favorite memory from when you were a student?
My favorite memory of school was when I was in 7th grade. Our Science teacher, Mr. Baznik let us choose a topic and prepare a week long unit to teach to the class. That is when I got my first taste of teaching others.