New Gilbert teachers reflect as year approaches end

As the school year nears its end, Gilbert Public Schools catch up with the first-year educators it has followed through the year one last time to reflect on their first year at GPS, exploring how their initial expectations held up to reality and discussing their growth as educators.

Abigail Mintz, orchestra teacher at Oak Tree Elementary, Pioneer Elementary and Val Vista Lakes Elementary

When the 2024-25 school year started, Abigail Mintz was eager to build on her prior experience teaching in another district.

With the support and resources available to her at Gilbert Public Schools, Mintz was empowered to move beyond basic classroom management and focus more deeply on her students’ individual needs.

As a result, she was able to connect with her sixth-grade students, who were initially hesitant to adapt to a teacher they were unfamiliar with.

Through consistency and dedicated effort, Mintz was able to establish a classroom environment where students began to feel comfortable with her.

“The shift in their attitudes began to happen, and now the class has become a great environment for both me and my students,” Mintz said. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see that growth and connection!”

As the school year comes to an end, Mintz said she has grown as an educator by learning to pace herself more effectively, finding a balance between knowing when to spend more time on a difficult topic versus when it’s time to move on.

Looking ahead, she aims to incorporate more engaging activities for her students and encourages new teachers to be proactive in seeking support.

“I used to feel hesitant to ask questions, thinking I might look uninformed, but I’ve realized that asking sooner would have saved me a lot of time,” Mintz said.

 April Clark, kindergarten teacher at Neely Traditional Academy

April Clark approached her first year at GPS with the anticipation of new experiences, a new curriculum, and professional growth in a different educational setting.

One significant takeaway for Clark has been her deep dive into clarity maps, a tool that has transformed her reading instruction.

By prompting students to look for clues in illustrations before even reading the words, Clark has enhanced their reading comprehension and encouraged deeper engagement with the text.

Beyond the curriculum, Clark has been deeply impressed by the collaborative and supportive atmosphere among her colleagues.

"Each colleague celebrates the other's achievement," she said. "No one is left out or thought of less. It's a true community that cares about one another."

This sense of community, coupled with her newfound expertise in multiple educational tools, has contributed to her growth as an educator.

Looking ahead, Clark aspires to complete her gifted and reading endorsements to further expand her teaching skills and reach even more students.

Her advice to new teachers joining GPS is simple: "Enjoy the ride. Be open to the new order of things and how each school operates differently."

Gabriella Deets, fourth grade English language arts and social studies teacher at Gilbert Elementary

Gabriella Deets entered her first year at Gilbert Public Schools with high expectations, having heard positive feedback about the district.

Her actual experiences have met her expectations, marked by the kindness and helpfulness of her colleagues and the administration at Gilbert Elementary.

Some of her most memorable moments of the year have been the many engaging school-wide activities on her campus.

"To Monster Math on Halloween, cultural month, the fourth grade concert and more, I have loved seeing students participate in activities outside of school," Deets said.   

Professionally, Deets said she feels she has grown by embracing diverse opportunities, such as tutoring and implementing new projects in her classroom that have allowed her to scaffold her lessons.

This growth has benefited her students, allowing her to tailor activities to their specific needs and create more enjoyable and effective learning experiences in small groups.

Looking ahead, Deets aims to continue strengthening student relationships to cultivate a calm and safe classroom environment.

Reflecting on her first year, her advice to new teachers would be to emphasize clear learning expectations at both the beginning and end of lessons to enhance student understanding.

Jonathan Dangerfield, Mandarin teacher at Gilbert High School

At the start of the school year, Jonathan Dangerfield looked forward to teaching Mandarin at a school with an established International Baccalaureate program and motivated students.

Dangerfield said he feels his expectations have been met, emphasizing the “truly wonderful” students he has taught over the school year.

When asked about his most memorable moments of the year, he highlighted a vibrant Chinese New Year potluck dinner that connected the school with the local Chinese community, offering students a firsthand cultural experience.

He also shared instances of students applying their Mandarin skills outside the classroom, such as a Mandarin 1 student writing birthday cards for classmates in Chinese.

Professionally, Dangerfield said he feels he has learned to find a balance between maintaining a warm and friendly rapport with his students while upholding clear expectations — which has fostered a positive and productive learning environment.

As he looks ahead to the next school year, Dangerfield aims to continue this balanced approach and reminds himself to encourage both students and himself to take time to reflect on their learning and accomplishments.

"It's easy for both teachers and students to be so focused on the day-to-day that you forget to look back on what you've accomplished," he said.

Kourtney Madsen, third-grade teacher at Canyon Rim Elementary

Kourtney Madsen approached her first year at GPS expecting to grow personally and professionally in her teaching career.

Reflecting on the year, Madsen said it has indeed been a valuable learning experience marked by tremendous personal development while acknowledging the ongoing journey of growth in education.

One of her most memorable moments of the school year was a third-grade field trip to the Musical Instrument Museum.

"I got to see my students interacting with the phenomenon we learned about in science: sound!" said Madsen.   

Professionally, Madsen said she feels her confidence as an educator has grown significantly throughout the year. She credits the support from Gilbert Public Schools for helping her navigate and implement effective teaching strategies that benefit both her and her students' success.

Looking ahead to the next school year, Madsen's goal is to deepen her understanding and mastery of the curriculum to best serve her students' needs.

After reflecting on her year, Madsen encourages new teachers to "stay positive, ask for help and find systems that work for you!"