Langley kindergartener Luke Lopez beamed as he ran across the football field carrying a smashed and rusty old beer can. He paused briefly in front of three bags - one designated for landfill-bound garbage, one for recyclable materials and a third for compostables. He tossed it in the recycling bag, earning enthusiastic high-fives and his fifth prize before sprinting away to find more.

Luke gathered with members of his school family and neighbors for a park clean-up event on Saturday. The Harry Thomas Sr. Recreation Center park is used each school day by Langley Elementary students and on the weekends by a youth football league, as well as neighbors who come to enjoy the many amenities such as the basketball court, community garden, pool and playground. The popular park was showing some wear and tear, said Langley PTSA President Mona Lewandoski, and it was a great opportunity to have students at the community service-focused school pitch in. 

Q. Where are you from?
A. I was born and raised in San Juan Capistrano, California. I went to school at the Mission in our town so I feel very connected to its rich history.  I attended the University of California - Santa Barbara, for both my undergraduate and Masters degrees. After teaching for one year there, I  decided to move to the East Coast where I have taught for another nine years.
 
Q. How and why did you become a teacher?
A. I have wanted to be a teacher since my first day of kindergarten! I came home and immediately began teaching my stuffed animals. In the summer, my brother and I would hold class every morning for our stuffed animals using our old school books. I originally thought I only wanted to teach kindergarten until I looped with one of my classes while I was at C.W. Harris. I fell in love with the first grade curriculum and the capabilities of 6-year-olds. Students grow more in first grade than in any other year. It is a true honor to be with them as they make such a momentous journey.
 
Q. What socioemotional skills are important for your first graders?
A. The part of the Conscious Discipline curriculum that has resonated most with me is teaching students how to use their "big voices." I believe that having an assertive tone is an invaluable skill that has to be cultivated over time. When we teach our children to advocate for themselves in their interactions with peers, they will be able to transfer that skill into adulthood. ​I sincerely believe that I am not just teaching math and literacy; I am also preparing my students to be compassionate citizens in their communities.
 
Q. How do you help your students learn about science, math, and technology?

Q. Where are you from?
A. Originally born in Tampa, Florida, I moved to Herndon, Virginia when I was ten and grew up there.
 
Q. What class do you teach at Langley?
A. I teach in the Communication and Education Support classroom for grades 3 - 5.
 
Q. How did you become a teacher?
A. I have always worked in the special needs field but I wanted to see the educational side of things and what work could be done. So much of our students’ development takes part in the school day, I wanted to be a part of that in a public-school setting. To get into the classroom, I went through the DC Teaching Fellows program.
 
Q. What is Communication and Education Support, and how do you teach it?
A. The Communication and Education Support classroom services students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our students require additional supports in communication and educational needs which looks different for every student. It isn’t quite a "how do you teach it," but rather "how do we support our students to be successful," and for that answer, feel free to stop by whenever! =) We are always happy to have visitors.

Hello new Tiger families!

Due to the cold and snowy weather forecast for Saturday, the Early Childhood Education playdate has been postponed until May. Current Langley families look forward to meeting you and your young students - join us for one of these upcoming events:

• Open House on April 10 at 9 AM - meet fellow parents and tour our beautiful building
• Community Clean-up and Enrollment day on April 21 from 9 - noon at the Harry Thomas Jr. Rec Center park - pitch in with Langley families to spruce up our park and drop off your child's school enrollment papers too

​Stay turned for the rescheduled Early Childhood Education playdate.