September 6, 2017

Dear Parents:

My name is Katie Strauss and I am  excited to be taking over  for Mrs. Bartlett  as her maternity leave replacement for my second year.  I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself as well as share with you my professional experience. I have truly enjoyed meeting your children over the past two days and I look forward to a fantastic year.

I have over twenty years experience as a educator.  I began my career teaching at Ironia Elementary School in Randolph, New Jersey. There I taught both fourth and second grades.  I then moved to The School District of the Chathams where I taught at Milton Avenue School for five years.  I was granted tenure in the district, which was a wonderful professional achievement for me.  During that time period I also earned my Master’s in Education, with honors, from  the College of Saint Elizabeth.  Throughout the years I have worked in both special and regular education.  

In 2008, my family and I relocated to Austin, Texas.  While in Austin I taught at a private school called The International School of Texas, which was an International Baccalaureate school which followed a British Curriculum.  It was a rigorous learning experience for me to work in an IB school and I acquired many wonderful techniques while teaching at this private school.  

On a personal note, this August my husband and I celebrated  twenty years of marriage.  We relocated back to New Jersey in 2015 to be closer to family, and we currently reside in Long Valley.  We have four amazing children.  Our eldest son is a sophomore at West Morris Central, our second is a freshman, we have one other son at  at Long Valley Middle School in seventh grade, and our baby girl is in third grade in Long Valley..  We love this area of New Jersey and are excited to once again be near our beloved family and friends.  

I am available whenever you have a question so please do not hesitate to contact me, either by phone at school or via email.   Please let me assure you that  my many years experience as a teacher as well as being a parent  I fully understand any question or concern you may have.   

I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you as well as your children.  Enclosed with this letter you will find two questionnaires for you to fill out so that I can get to know your child..  Additionally you will see a copy of both our class and chromebook rules.  Please review these rules with your child and send back the questionnaires as soon as possible.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

Katie Strauss