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8th Grade

  • Laurie Morrell- I have been teaching at Spencer-Van Etten for 19 years. I received my Bachelors of Arts in History at Nazareth College and my Masters of Science in Social Studies Education at Syracuse University.  I love the energy that 8th graders bring into the classroom.  Seeing the students succeed at a task they once struggles with is very rewarding. 

 

  • Bret McDermott – I have been teaching in the Spencer-Van Etten School District for 17 years. I attended SUNY Cortland for both my Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education, and for my Master’s degree in Literacy Education.  The dynamics of middle schoolers strongly contributes to my love of the age group.  Each day there is a new challenge, and I get my motivation and energy from the daily interaction with my students.  I cannot imagine a more fulfilling job than teaching, and to know that I have made some impact on the lives of a child is the most rewarding feeling. 

 

  • Mrs. Angela Holmes – Literacy Coach Grades 5-8.  This is my tenth year teaching at Spencer Van Etten and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.  I’ve been in education for the past eighteen years, in many different roles, in multiple states.  I began as a classroom teacher and have taught Kindergarten, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grades in Kansas, Virginia, and now New York. The past 5 years I have been working as a literacy specialist at our elementary school and this year have become full time here at the middle school.   My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Mansfield University, PA.  My master’s degree is from Old Dominion University, VA and is in Reading Education Grade K-12.  I live in Spencer NY with my husband and three children.  When I’m not working with kids, I like to garden, run, read and watch my kids play sports.  I love books and have read many butmy most favorite book is, Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech.