I am a strong believer in parent-teacher communication, so allow me to first introduce myself.  My name is Jennifer Brown.  I am the middle child in a family of seven children, and tutoring my three younger siblings allowed me the opportunity to know that I wanted to focus on the field of education at a young age.  Therefore, throughout my college years at the University of Michigan obtaining my B.A. in education, I gained an immense amount of experience both inside and outside of the classroom; working as a nanny for a local family and an at-risk tutor for the Carmen Ainsworth District in Flint, Michigan.  The experiences that I accrued throughout the years of being employed at both the family and educational levels have been vital in being a successful teacher.  
   Three years ago, I moved down to Louisiana from Michigan due to the fortunate opportunity of teaching at Linwood Public Charter School with the Sabis Corporation.  Although it was a blessed experience, when I heard that Caddo Middle Magnet had an opening, I leaped at the opportunity to get an interview!  I heard such amazing things about Caddo Middle Magnet and was thrilled to find that I would have the opportunity to be a part of such a dynamic school.  
   I truly feel that each and every student in my class can achieve academic success quickly if they are determined to do so.  But in order to help them meet their potential, I have high expectations for our class.   Please feel free to contact me for any reason.  I’d love to get to know you!!  I look forward to a great year and working closely with you and your child! 

As an English teacher, I have nineteen years of experience, seventeen at Youree  Drive Middle School and two at CMM, and am classified as "highly qualified."
I grew up in Ruston, just 70 miles east of here. Some of my fondest memories were spent only a block away at my grandmother's old Victorian-style home, which was the setting of a great Bonnie and Clyde story involving two of her
boarders. Ask me about it sometime. I attended Hillcrest, a great elementary school, and graduated from Cedar Creek High in 1976.
I received my BA degree in English Education at Louisiana Tech University. Immediately after graduation, I lived in China for two months on a language study program; however, don't ask me to speak any Chinese unless it's "nihao." That was a long time ago.
I took a detour on the road to teaching. For four years, I was the Arts-in-Education Director for the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, where I wrote grants to place artists in schools where there was no arts program. I  helped the artists design lessons which correlated the arts and the classroom curriculum.  However, working with teachers and artists in the classroom made me want to be in the classroom again. Since then I have received training as a teacher/consultant for the National Writing Project and have lead numerous  workshops for teachers and administrators. In addition, I have been trained to incorporate technology in the classroom by INTECH as well as many other in-services. It was an honor to be named Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2000 by the  Caddo Parish School Board and in 2001 by the Caddo Association of Educators. However, my proudest moments have been when my students have been recognized for their writing accomplishments in competitions such as ARTBREAK and Seedlings. One of my most memorable moments happened during the summer of 2007. I attended a Holocaust survivor conference in New Orleans for three days. There I was amazed to listen to five survivors tell their miraculous stories. The night before I  heard the last survivor speak, I finished Elie Wiesel's book, Night, one of the books we will read together. It was an awesome experience! I consider it an honor and a privilege to pass their stories on to my students. In my spare time, I enjoy camping out in the wilds of Arkansas, working out at the gym, reading really good books, listening to all kinds of music, eating at Tacomania, watching too much television, writing about growing up in the South, watching good movies, practicing yoga, riding a bike in a spin class, spending time with my friends, traveling to faraway places whenever I can, painting for relaxation, and riding around with the top down!
To schedule a conference, please call Mrs. Bennett at 868-6588. To contact me, call 518-0299, or email me at ccampbell@caddo.k12.la.us.

This is my seventeenth year teaching in Caddo and my seventh year at CMM. I have three children, Margaret Ann, 26, a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and working as a Deputy Assessor at the Caddo Parish Tax Assessor's Office; Madeline, 17 and a senior at Magnet High, and Jack, 13, an eighth grader at Caddo Middle Magnet. We have two cats, Ping Pong and Chester. I love photography,scrapbooking, and going to the movies.

I began my teaching career in Shreveport in 1980. I have taught at several schools in Caddo Parish and I began teaching at Caddo Middle Magnet in 1994. I am a highly qualified English teacher with a Masters of Education Degree and a Plus Thirty. I enjoy reading mysteries and science fiction stories and I have two small dogs that I am devoted to. I am looking forward to another successful year with my students!

Class's Mission:  My mission for my classes is simple yet extremely important. I want to prepare my students to succeed on the LEAP test, and to be as well prepared for high school as I can make them. All the assignments and enrichment activities that I have my students do, are completed with these goals in mind. As a member of Caddo Middle Magnet's faculty and staff, I am participating in our school wide positive behavior plan. To help facilitate this, I am expecting all my students to know what STARR stands for at CMM and that it is reflected in the environment in my classroom. S- Safe environment T- Task oriented A- Academic achievement R- Responsible R- Respect yourself and others

   My name is Sarah Jane Knick, and I am proud to be a member of the staff at Caddo Middle Magnet. I teach English/Language Arts, sixth grade, Gateway. I received my undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University-Shreveport, my MAT from Centenary College, and my Gateway certification from Louisiana State University-Shreveport. I have taught English at Caddo Middle Magnet for ten years. Prior to this I was a professional musician and a paralegal.
   I am honored to be this year’s Louisiana Region VII Middle School Teacher of the Year. I love my students, and I work hard to ensure they are prepared for the academic challenges that lie ahead of them. I am a third-generation English teacher, and I love my job and my students!
  Mission For The Class:  Every child should be treated as a human being first, then as a student of learning. Our goal is to enhance students' learning experiences by using a variety of teaching techniques so that every learner is capable of developing his or her unique gifts and talents

Hello, I am Mrs. McInnis, and I am a sixth grade English/Language Arts teacher at Middle Magnet. I have taught in Caddo Parish for seventeen years, this being my second at CMM. Madison and Morgan, my twin daughters, are in the eighth grade at this school. I am an avid reader,and I am looking forward to covering some great books with my classes. I enjoy spending my spare time running, walking, and working out, and of course, attending softball games! I am looking forward to a great year with my super sixth graders!! 

My name is Kathy Parrish. I am a widow with one twenty-nine-year-old son who lives and works in Dallas. I have a cat named Ashes and a dog named Amelia. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education as well as my Master of Science Degree in Business Education from Southern Missouri University in Springfield, Missouri. Afterwards, I went back to school at Louisiana State University- Shreveport for and received English certification from the state of Louisiana. I then completed necessary course work and received my Gifted certification in Louisiana. I am highly qualified in both the areas of business and English. I have taught a total of twenty-five years. Over my career I was elected Broadmoor Middle School Teacher of the Year in 1981. I have served as school state representative for the Missouri State Teachers Association and as English chair for the Louisiana Association of Educators. Presently I am a member of the Caddo Federation of Teachers, Louisiana Federation of Teachers, and American Federation of Teachers. I love teaching and plan to continue for at least a few more years.

This will be the twenty-eighth year we have been teaching at Caddo Middle Magnet and our twentieth year to team teach. We share sponsorship of Student Council at CMM. Mrs. Phelps teaches English, creative writing, and Newspaper Staff. Mr. Phelps teaches American history and Living Law, an elective, to 8th grade students. Mr. Phelps also sponsors the Chess Club. We have four children! Our eldest has completed her Master of Arts in Teaching and can be found teaching sixth grade world history on the Discoverers Team at CMM. We have a son who graduated from Centenary this year with a degree in social studies education and is working on his Masters in Liberal Arts with an add-on gifted certification. We have a son who is a junior engineering major at Louisiana Tech, and our youngest son is a junior at Caddo Magnet High.

I teach 6th grade Gateway English at Caddo Middle Magnet. This is my first year at CMM and my twelfth year teaching English. I love being at CMM! In 1995, I graduated from Centenary College with a B.A. in English, and I completed my teaching certification classes at LSUS in 2005. I love to read, write, garden, and spend lots of time with friends and family. My husband and I have a daughter Laura who is in kindergarten at South Highlands.

"The person who won't read has no advantage over the person who can't read."  --Mark Twain

With the start of the 2011-2012 school year, I am excited to begin my fifteenth year of teaching at Caddo Middle Magnet. My teaching career began in 1995 as a participant in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program where I taught English in Japanese public high schools. While I have been at CMM, I have taught enriched and GT ELA, numerous electives, and all three grades. This year I will have six periods of 7th grade GT English.

My current certifications include: Secondary English, Journalism, Teacher Leader, Education Leadership I, and Gifted and Talented. I earned my Master of Education degree in 1998 and Plus 30 in 2007. Over the years, I have been the fortunate recepient of CMM PTSA Lifetime Memebership (2007), Louisiana State PTSA Educator of Distinction (2007), CMM Teacher of the Year (2000-2001 and 2006-2007), Caddo Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year (2006-2007), and Louisiana Region I/State Finalist Middle School Teacher of the Year (2006-2007). Also, I have served on two national teacher advisory boards: Time for Kids Magazine (2006-2008) and Channel One (2006-2009). In addition, I have received several grants including the KTBS One Class at a Time grant (2006) and numerous Alliance for Education grants. Two highlights of my teaching career so far have been my participation in the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute and the Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Summer Teacher Seminar in Poland and Israel.

I view education as my calling, and it is my goal to instill a love of life-long learning in my students and to provide each of them with a challenging and innovative curriculum within a safe and nurturing environment

“I cannot live without books.” – Thomas Jefferson

My name is Debra Spearman.  I have a B.A. in English Education from ULM and an M.Ed. in gifted education from LSUS; plus I have taken additional graduate courses from Louisiana Tech, LSU, and Centenary College.  I have certification in English, social studies, and gifted education, and I am highly qualified.  I am a trained presenter in the National Writing Project and have taught every English course from middle school English through college freshman English.  I have served on the Louisiana Department of Education Graduation Exit Exam and End of Course Test teacher committees, and I reviewed a section of a new literature book for McDougal Littell.  I was selected Teacher of Year twice at a previous school. I have not only taught gifted students for several years, but also I am also the mother of gifted students. 

I enjoy teaching all aspects of English, including vocabulary study, literature, grammar, and writing.  I will endeavor to help your student to recognize and value the importance of reading.  Literature is a great way to learn about others and “see the world” from a chair.  Your student will need to have time to read outside of class time, and your support in encouraging your student to read and complete homework will be important to his or her success.

I value a positive atmosphere in the classroom that fosters a more open discussion and learning arena.  Students are encouraged to respect the opinions of others and be accepting of different ideas.  I like to teach and really enjoy when students are interested in their own learning.  We are all more successful when students are engaged in the classroom.  

I am a graduate of Hunter College (City University of New York). I majored in English Literature and Elementary Education and earned my Master of Education from Northwestern. My teaching career has included several stateside as well as overseas positions. In 1993, Shreveport became my home, and I continued my career with Caddo Parish. Teaching 6th grade ELA at Caddo Middle Magnet has been one of the highlights of my career. I enjoy working with the children, sharing my love for literature and being a part of helping children to be successful.

Mission for the Class:  My commitment is to prepare and guide all students to achieve high standards of learning and development

My name is Kelly Wise. I have been a teacher for 18 years; this will be my 19th! Wow; time really flies when you love what you do for a living! I have taught in both Caddo and Bossier Parishes, but all of my experience is with English/Language Arts. My family and friends make fun of me because they think I am too obsessed with grammar! But I love it. I have a wonderful husband of 13 years and 2 beautiful children. I have a very blessed life and praise God for it everyday. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns. Email is best, but you may also call the school and I will get the message as soon as I can. Have a great day!

Mission For The Class:  I want all of my students to love school. I know that is almost impossible, but I hope to at least make them NOT hate it. I hope to make life-long readers out of my kids, too. What can be better than to lose yourself in a good book on a rainy afternoon?