Who is Mrs. Mitchell?

My name is Amy Mitchell and I am the "giraffe teacher" at Stratham Memorial School. This is my sixth year teaching at SMS-- I spent my first four years teaching second grade as "Ms. Riley" and I could not be more excited for my second year as "Mrs. Mitchell" in Kindergarten! I am thrilled be a part of their community of superb educators and Simply Marvelous Students. It is a truly wonderful place to learn and grow for both students and teachers alike.

I grew up in Central Massachusetts along with my brother Matt at Camp Kinneywood, where my parents were the caretakers from 1993-2018. Growing up at the camp allowed me to develop a deep appreciation for the outdoors, and I very much enjoy hiking, swimming, and playing all sorts of outdoor games. It has also given me an infinite amount of opportunities to work with children, and I am still in touch with many of the wonderful campers I've met throughout the years. This camp holds a very special place in my heart--not only is it the place where I grew up, but it also the place where my husband Andrew (aka "Mitch") proposed to me in July of 2017! We were married the following year and we just recently bought our first home in Dover. 

I was able to develop a deep appreciation for learning through my own educational experiences. I've had many wonderful teachers throughout the years who created truly meaningful learning experiences for myself and my classmates, many of which I now try to incorporate in my own classroom. I cherish the relationships I've had with all of my teachers and still remain in contact with many of them. My 4th grade teacher Mrs. Paul, who used to play her guitar named George during many of our lessons, recently gave me a "George Junior" to use in my own classroom, and I am so excited to enhance our learning experiences with a bit of music once I learn how to play! Mrs. Paul is also the person who inspired me to write our second grade play "Can't Stop The Seedling!" 

Mrs. Mitchell at Camp Kinneywood with a few of her former teachers
Top Left-Right: Mrs. Paul and Mrs. Mitchell

Bottom Left-Right: Mrs. Zinkus and Mrs. Kennedy, Ms. Riley's Kindergarten Teachers 

I attended college at the University of New Hampshire, where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies as well as a Master of Education degree in Elementary Education. While attending UNH, I interned and volunteered in several different preschools and elementary schools in the seacoast area. I also ran after school clubs at the Durham Public Library and taught swim lessons at the UNH pool. For fun, I was also a member of UNH's improv comedy troupe (that is how Mitch and I met!)

In addition to sharing my love of learning and the great outdoors, my interests also include baking, reading (that includes children's books as well as books at my "just right" reading level), crafting, and photography. 

FUN FACTS:

• My favorite animal is the giraffe, partially because they remind me of my own family members who are also very tall--my brother is 7 ft. tall, which is about 1 ft. taller than the average baby giraffe.
• I used to have a dog named Ben who could peel bananas! Dogs are also my favorite pet
• When I was in elementary school, I was chosen as an audience volunteer to be in a magic show. I floated on a platform in mid-air!
• I absolutely love children's literature, and I've had the privilege of meeting lots of different children's book authors! A few of my favorites that I've had the pleasure of meeting include Eric Carle, Mo Willems, Kate DiCamillo, Jon Klassen, Mac Barnett, and Dan Santat