Who Is Ms. Hepler?
Collegiate Schooling: I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education (with a minor in Social Sciences) from the University of Wisconsin. After moving to Illinois I earned my Illinois teaching certifications in elementary (K-9th grade), early childhood (birth-3rd grade), special education (LBS1) and English as a Second Language (ESL/ELL). I am currently enrolled in a Master program through National Louis University earning a dual masters in English Language Learning and Special Education.
Professional Career: I began working full time at the age of 16 and paid for my entire education through hard work and dedication. I've had many job adventures, but have been in the field of professional education since my college graduation in 1991. I have served as a teacher or administrator in private, non-profit and public school settings for children from birth through 6th grade.
Family Life: I am the proud mother of two children. My son attends my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin, and is studying computer sciences. He is a member of the Delta Sigma Phi. My daughter attends Fremd High School and is very active as a volunteer with various community organizations. Our family's pets are two retrievers (Callie and Heidi) and a black cat (Shadow); all were rescues. .
Hobbies: During the summer I love to garden. I tend a number of gardens around my yard that produce fruits, vegetables, and many flowers. My gardens are all organic. I compost to produce soil, and use rain barrels for the freshest water possible. My family recycles everything that we can to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. During the winter I work on my American coin collections. The coins I collect are those dated between 1900-1960. Pennies are my favorites!
Talents: I come from a very musical background... both of my parents are music teachers. I play the flute and piano. I love to bake and my specialty has been passed down by my Swedish relatives for generations; chocolate chip banana bread.
Favorite treats: Diet Mt. Dew, chocolate covered nuts, scented candles and plants.
Favorite Authors/Books
My favorite authors have usually written a large number of books. When I discover a new book to enjoy I always search the author and read many of their other books. These are some of the books I use with different age levels in my programs and their authors.
My favorite authors have usually written a large number of books. When I discover a new book to enjoy I always search the author and read many of their other books. These are some of the books I use with different age levels in my programs and their authors.
Jessica Spanyol
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Monica Wellington
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Jack Gantos
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My Heritage: Swedish
The first person from the Swedish side of my family who immigrated to the United States was named Mary Kullberg. At the age of 17, she traveled by herself from Sweden. She came in through Ellis Island, New York, and moved to Rockford, Illinois, where many other Swedish descendants had settled. Mary worked as a domestic servant for a while until she accepted a permanent position with a doctor's family as a nanny and housekeeper. She saved money until she could afford to bring her younger brother John, to the United States. John came over after he completed his military service in the Swedish Army. He worked as a cobbler to earn money to bring his fiancee, Mina, over. After Mina came over she and John married. They opened their own shoe shop where they repaired and sold the shoes they continued to make. They had 3 children. One of those children was my grandfather Fred, born in 1906. Fred was the first of our family to be born in the United States. His picture (beside my grandmother's) is shown below on our family tree. My name is shown on our family tree as the lowest purple oval on the left. The two stars to the left of my name are my children.
If you would like to learn more about our nation of immigrants I recommend two sites that are interactive, age appropriate, and excellent:
Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today
America's Story from America's Library
Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today
America's Story from America's Library