Lower School

Hunninghake_7348.jpgLisa Hunninghake | Third Grade
Looking back on her childhood, Lisa Hunninghake says she should have known she was destined to be a teacher. "I played school with my younger sister and neighbors, and I babysat all the time," she recalls. "But it wasn't until a college volunteer experience with preschool-age autistic children that the light bulb went off. I changed my major (from occupational therapy), went into teaching and have loved it ever since."

Faculty_Tonkin_7848.jpgBobbie Tonkin | First Grade
Bobbie says she absolutely loves first graders. "It’s a magical year," she says. "They grow and change so much. It’s amazing to watch them become more independent, and they’re so open, kind and compassionate." She has also learned a lot about first-grade humor. “They love jokes," she smiles, “and so I get to use a lot of humor in my teaching."

Swenson_R_3237.jpgRuthanne Swenson | Kindergarten
Ask Ruthanne Swenson what she likes most about teaching kindergarten, and she’ll say that it’s the constant challenge of extending what they’re learning and making it meaningful. And whether it’s by singing, reading, or the ever-popular kindergarten circus or "Little Red Hen" operetta, her students are often too busy having fun to realize how much they’re learning.

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Claudia Sanhueza | Lower School Spanish
Lower School Spanish teacher Claudia Sanhueza considers the profession of teaching to be a gift. "It's a huge way of doing service," she says. "You get to touch so many lives."