NAME:
Michelle Degenhardt & Kari Penrose
SCHOOL:
Salem Lutheran School
CLASS:
Fifth Grade Homerooms
SCHOOL PHONE:
281-351-8122
Hi! My name is Michelle Degenhardt. I was born and raised in the great state
of Nebraska. Yes, I will always be a Nebraska Husker fan! I am the daughter
of a Lutheran pastor and Lutheran school teacher, and they have been great
examples of putting Christ first in their lives for as long as I can
remember. I was blessed to attend a Lutheran school from kindergarten through
eighth grade. It was in third grade that I knew I wanted to be a Lutheran
school teacher. I attended Centennial High School and Ogallala High School. I
was active in National Honor Society, volleyball, basketball, track, band,
choir, and youth group while in high school. I am still the proud record
holder for the 800 at my high school. Not only was I blessed athletically in
high school, God also led me to gradate with honors in the top 5% of my class
in May of 1999.
I attended Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska because I still felt God
was leading me to be a Lutheran teacher. At Concordia, I majored in
elementary education with a concentration in physical education. I also
played volleyball for all four years of college. I took my first call to St.
Paul Lutheran, in Thorndale, Texas where I taught all subjects for fifth and
sixth grade for five years.
This is my second year here at Salem! This year I will be teaching fourth and
fifth grade math as well as religion. I also coach volleyball. I am looking
forward to this year. I love teaching God's children every day and sharing my
faith with them. It is my prayer that God will richly bless our year together
and that He will give each of your children a big year of growing
academically, but most important spiritually.
Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Concordia University in
Seward, Nebraska with a concentration in Theatre Arts/Communication
Master's Degree in Education Curriculum specializing in the area of Reading
and Children's Literature from California State University East Bay in
Hayward, California
I am so blessed to be a part of Salem Ministries in a full-time capacity this
year. I truly believe that God has led me to this place to teach the
wonderful children here at Salem Lutheran School!
A little bit about me...This is my second year of teaching at Salem, but my
first year teaching full-time. I have been teaching in Lutheran and public
schools for the past nine years. I have taught just about every grade
between Pre-School to sixth grade. I am a native Nebraskan but lived in
Northern California for eight years before moving to the great state of Texas
with my husband Ryan and our two little boys; Riley (5 years) and Peyton (2
years). I am passionate about my faith, teaching, my family, reading and
cooking. I am looking forward to my new adventure as a fifth grade homeroom
teacher this year!