*UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2014*
Meet our Primary teachers who are returning for 2014-15, featured in last year's Friday Faces:
Jennifer Perneel
Primary Team Lead Teacher (Core on Track B),
Level 2 Math Teacher (Track B),
Friday Foundations Lead and Friday Foundations Primary Teacher
Q: What is your degree in?
A: I have a B.S. in Child Development. I received my degree from Cal Poly! I have a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Chapman University.
Q: What was your last job before your SLOCA life?
A: Before SLOCA, I was a 1st grade teacher in the Santa Maria Bonita School District.
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: I am usually woken up by my daughter running in with a cheerful “good morning!” as she climbs in to bed with me for morning snuggles. If I happen to be up before my children, I head to the coffee pot!
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: Hmmm… before kids, it was Rosa's. With kids… anywhere that serves fast and is loud enough that we blend in to the noise! I had the opportunity to go to Ciopinot for the first time just this week and I was in heaven. I think that may be my new favorite date night place!
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
A: Anything by Beverly Cleary! My favorites were the Ramona series and Ellen Tebbits. I was so excited when my son read them and loved them as much as I did! Now we talk about our favorite Ramona stories!
Q: What is your favorite piece of literature that we've read at SLOCA?
A: Wow- there have been so many! Off the top of my head, The Prince and the Pauper, Don Quixote, A Lion to Guard Us, Seaman's Journal, Chanticleer and the Fox, King Arthur, any of the Shakespeare stories we have read… just to name a few!
Melinda Fragasso
Primary Core, Level 1 Math, and Primary Art Teacher (both tracks),
High School Art Teacher
Q: What is your degree in?
A: I have a bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in art.
Q: What was your last job before your SLOCA life?
A: I started teaching 22 years ago and have taught in three different states off and on since then.
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: Sadly, the first thing I do in the morning is feed the dog and then the cat because they won't give me any peace until I do.
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: Firestone Grill in SLO and pretty much any mexican restaurant
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
A: I devoured books as a child and have a hard time choosing just one, but, The Secret Garden stands out and the Laura Ingalls Wilder series. I loved series – more to read.
Q: What is your favorite piece of literature that we've read at SLOCA?
A: I really enjoyed Tom Sawyer last year.
Ronelle Stowell
Primary Core, Level 2 Math, and Primary Science Teacher (Track A)
Q: What is your degree in?
A: Psychology
Q: What was your last job before your SLOCA life?
A: I worked as a therapist and psychometrist. I have been homeschooling my kids using classical curriculum since my oldest was in first grade (9 years now).
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: Have a cup of coffee
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: Novo in SLO
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
A: Beatrix Potter books and The Secret Garden
Q: What is your favorite piece of literature that we've read at SLOCA?
A: Just one? Don Quixote, The Prince and the Pauper, Tom Sawyer, Johnny Tremain, Shakespeare books for kids and many more I am forgetting at the moment!
Heidi Breese
Primary Science Teacher (Track B)
Q: What is your degree in?
A: My degree is in Agriculture Education from Cal Poly. I went back to Poly a few years later and received an add on credential in science and was working towards another add on in English Literature.
Q: What was your last job before your SLOCA life?
A: Prior to teaching at SLOCA, I have been working as a real estate agent. I work with Bjerre and Garcia Realty and have been doing that for over 11 years. Before that I taught at the high school and as a long term substitute in Santa Ynez at their Jr High, as well as substitute teaching in the San Luis District for many years. Oh….fun fact…. I taught skiing in Mammoth for 11 seasons (driving back and forth on weekends and holidays!).
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: The first thing I do in the mornings…..3 days a week I roll out at 4:45 and head to the pool. The rest of the week I like to wait for the early morning alarms of my two littles crawling in my bed for morning snuggles before getting up! On the weekends I love to go on early morning bike rides, especially when I can convince Jenn Wright to join me!!
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: I love eating a special dinner at Blu or Giuseppe’s.
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
A: Unfortunately, I really don't remember a favorite book as a kid. Maybe that's why I read so much with my boys now, so that they will say they had a favorite as a kid! I think their favorite is the book Heidi. Imagine that!! We read it together last spring. It was very special to snuggle up and read this beautifully written classic to them which they truly enjoyed.
Q: What is your favorite piece of literature?
A: We are reading the Chronicles of Narnia now and that may be my new favorite. I love reading with my boys. Since coming to SLOCA I realized I can read these special books to my kids, instead of just picture books or just for fun chapter books. I am grateful for this inspiration. I would never have attempted to read classics like 80 Days Around The World to a 5 year old if I hadn't heard from this school that it was exactly what I was supposed to be doing!
Primary teachers featured elsewhere:
Kindergarten – Intermediate Music Teacher
We love learning about our SLOCA community – thank you, Primary teachers, for participating!
SLO Classical Academy is not affiliated with any of the above mentioned websites or businesses.
