• About Mrs. Kelly VanBuskirk...

    Position: Kindergarten CATS teacher

    Room: A2

    Phone: 480-812-6132

    Email: Mrs. Kelly VanBuskirk

    Mrs. Kelly VanBuskirk

    Connect With Us

    Click here to connect with us on our school social media pages, Infinite Campus Portal (assignments and grades), by email, or by phone.

    Welcome!

    Welcome to Kinder CATS! I grew up as a student in CUSD and am now overjoyed to say that I get to continue in CUSD as a teacher. In kindergarten at KGA we are setting a strong foundation for our students to become problem solvers through creativity and engineering. I am excited for each new adventure with the Kinder CATS!

    My Education and Professional Background

    I graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s of Elementary Education. I went on to get my Masters in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from Northern Arizona University. I also hold endorsements in English as a Second Language (ESL), Reading and Early Childhood. I am currently working on getting my Gifted Endorsement. I taught first grade for 7 years and kindergarten for 3 years before moving over to Knox Gifted Academy.

    My Educational Philosophy

    I understand that a child is more than just what they know academically, and therefore will teach to the whole child (academically, socially and emotionally). My philosophy is one of a growth model. I will continue to push and grow your child as long as they are in my classroom. Learning should be fun and engaging to all students. I also believe that it is my job to help create students who think critically about the world around them and are problem solvers.

    The Choice is Yours! Why Choose Knox Gifted Academy?

    Your child’s year as a Kinder Cat will set the stage for their time at Knox Gifted Academy. We know that most of the jobs that our students will have in the future have not yet been created. Therefore it is our job to create the next generation of problem solvers. Our rigorous curriculum will allow students to explore new ideas through collaborative hands-on experiences. They will gain a deep conceptual understanding that will help them be flexible thinkers that apply their knowledge in different situations.