Dear Reader,

My name is Amy Olivarez. I teach second grade in the Okemos School District,
which is a suburban area outside of Lansing. I graduated from Michigan State University
with my Bachelors of Arts Degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Language
Arts, in 2008. I also completed my initial certification from MSU by completing my
yearlong internship in 2009. After receiving my teacher certification and finishing my
student teaching internship, I accepted my first teaching position at a small charter
school, called Morey Public School Academy. I was placed in a third/fourth split
classroom, where I had seventeen students and a paraprofessional. I also started training
for Montessori, due to this school transitioning into a Montessori school. After one year
of working at this school, I was hired into a rural, low-socioeconomic public school
district, Montabella Community Schools. I taught in this school district for three years,
teaching first/second grade split, third grade, and second grade. I have been working in
my current school district, Okemos Public Schools, for three years, teaching second and
third grades. Upon reading this portfolio and synthesis paper, I hope you will find
evidence of my passion and desire to foster a diverse learning community by
differentiating to meet the needs of all of my students and collaborating with my
classmates, colleagues, and students parents to form a partnership.
The Okemos School District consists of seven different school buildings including
four elementary schools, a 5th and 6th grade building, a 7th and 8th grade building, and one
high school. I teach at Hiawatha Elementary School, which consists of students in
kindergarten through fourth grade. Our school also houses two basic classrooms,
including a cognitive impairments classroom, and an emotionally impairments classroom.
There are approximately 500 students in our building, while every year our school
population continues to grow. According to 2013-2014 data, 18.4% of the students at my
school receive free and reduced lunch support. Regarding race and ethnicity, my school is
57.4% white/Caucasian, 25.9% Asian American, 10.1% black/African American, 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino, and .8% American Indian/Alaskan native.
I currently teach second grade at Hiawatha Elementary School in the Okemos
School District. This year, I have 23 students in my classroom, ranging from 6-8 years in
age. My students are made up of 11 boys and 12 girls. My students are diverse in race,
ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and primary language. My students also range in
academic support. I have students who mainstream into my classroom from the
emotionally impaired classroom, students who receive Speech and Language support,
English as a Second Language support, receive Title 1 reading services, are labeled as
gifted and talented, and receive services from our school counselor. All of these
differences have allowed me to explore my passion of creating a warm and nurturing
classroom environment, where my students needs are met both academically and
socially. I will continue to foster a diverse learning community, in order to differentiate to
meet the needs of all of my students.
Sincerely,
Amy Olivarez