Article Contributed on: 1/19/2007 11:07:08 AM
Mrs. Kathleen Harper of Aspen Academy is the most amazing teacher, kind spirited person, friend, and leader. Kathleen has been teaching the Junior Kindergarten class at Aspen Academy for the past two years. Her spunk and drive truly make for an amazing classroom environment filled with children who are experiencing a love for learning. The Junior Kindergarten class begins at age 4, and the goal is to prepare these children for Kindergarten. Kathleen's class is so much more than just preparing these children for Kindergarten. Kathleen starts everyday with an enormous smile and hug for each child that enters her room. As my son went through her class last year, I was amazed! When my son entered her classroom in the fall of 2005, he was greeted by 9 other children who were his friends within 15 minutes. My son went into this class having his ABCs mastered, counting to 20, and some other basic skills of children at the age of 4. By the winter break, my son was reading, doing simple math problems, counting to 100+, writing all the letters and numbers, and the most important is he loved going to school. At that time I had to visit the classroom to see what was going on. I signed up to volunteer in the classroom and found out what Kathleen Harper was all about. There was so much energy, excitement, friendships, learning, and sharing going on in that room it was amazing. I still have not figured out how she does it, but the children love to come to school, they are excelling academically at speeds unheard of for 4 year olds, they were learning how to be kind to others, learning about their community, how to build a great community, along with learning the core curriculum for the Junior Kindergarten. It was an amazing experience to sit and watch the children has they learned new things, and how their eyes lit up when they figured something out. I do not think words can describe what Mrs. Harper has done for the children of Aspen Academy. She has changed lives and my son is an example of what a positive and impactful personKathleen has on children. Teaching our children a true love of learning, kindness and building an amazing community.