More About Ms. Gerster
Meet the Teacher
Out of my seventeen years of
teaching, I've taught thirteen years in the Deer Valley School District.
I graduated from Arizona State University West with a bachelor’s degree
in Elementary Education and an English as a Second Language endorsement.
Later I received a master’s degree in Elementary Education with a
Reading Specialist endorsement from Northern Arizona University. First
grade is my favorite grade!
2012-2013 was my first year at
Sierra Verde. It was a year that changed my life. I wanted to get
to know the community and blend in, but life took an unexpected turn on January
2, 2013. My daughter was in an accident that left her paralyzed from the
waist down. Sierra Verde's Reindeer Run had been rained out in December
and postponed. It turned out to be the biggest Reindeer run/walk ever
when it was changed to a "Go for the Gersters"
fundraiser. Sierra Verde community, Mountain Ridge community, and beyond
pulled together in an amazing way. My daughter
was given support that has helped her and my family move forward on
our new journey. That day allowed us to realize that we were not alone in
what we were dealing with. Katrina was able to return to school and
finish off her junior year at Mountain Ridge with straight A's! She is an
inspiration not only to me, but also to many others. My
students that year learned to never give up and to keep on keeping
on!
I'm a native to Phoenix, Arizona. I love to spend time with family
and friends, ride my bike, read, work on puzzles, and do creative things like
beading, scrapbooking, or making cards.
My favorite book is ‘Love You Forever’ by Robert Munsch. It’s about a
mother’s unconditional love that spreads to the next generation. It’s
also no secret that my favorite cartoon character is Mickey Mouse or
that my favorite color is red. Both seem bright and cheery to me.
I have high expectations for myself and my
students. I help my students understand that mistakes are
a part of learning and to never give up! I help
my students to strengthen their weaknesses and to not let their strengths
get weak. I teach with songs, books, poems, many other teaching
tools, and lots of heart.