Oct. 9-13 Fire Prevention Week activities with Lake Ridge Fire Department
Oct. 13 - End of Quarter 1
Oct. 16 eLearning Day
Oct. 21 (SATURDAY) Lake County Sheriff's Department Trunk or Treat!!
Oct. 23 4pm PTA meeting in the Longfellow library.
Oct. 25 - Picture Day!
Oct. 26 & 27- Fall Break
Oct. 31 - Halloween parade and classroom parties. Students should bring their costumes to school and will change before the parade at 1:30. Parties will begin after the parade.
Diane Anderson: Early Literacy Coach
I was born and raised in the region and graduated from River Forest High School. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten endorsement from Ball State University in 2004. After which I accepted my first teaching position in Kindergarten. I taught Kindergarten for fifteen years and during that time I became certified through Indiana University Bloomington in the Reading First Program. I also worked to receive my High Ability License from Ball State University during that time. In 2016, I received an award from Lighthouse Academies for the highest amount of student growth in the network on NWEA in both reading and math. In 2019 I decided to switch grade levels and taught third grade for three years. This has given me a total of eighteen years in teaching.
Currently, I am employed by the state of Indiana and Lake Ridge Schools as the Literacy Coach for Longfellow elementary. I am also currently participating in the Northwest Indiana Cadre to help implement the Science of Reading at our school. Teaching students to read is really my passion and I am looking forward to helping our students grow and develop as readers.
In my personal life I have been with my husband for nineteen years. I have two stepchildren and five grandchildren. I love dogs- especially my own fur baby who we rescued from the Hobart Humane Society. He is a cocker spaniel mix named Noodles. My family and I love to play cards, go bowling, and attend sporting events. In my free time I enjoy cooking, gardening, reading, and going to the movies with my friends.
I am very excited to work with the Longfellow Elementary community this year!
Sue Zientara: Literacy Academic Interventionist
Lived the majority of my life in Northwest Indiana where I attended Beverage School in Gary, Indiana. I graduated from Merrillville High School.
I completed both my bachelor (BS) and master's degree (MaEd) at Ball State University. My degrees encompass elementary education, kindergarten endorsement, and reading specialist on my teaching license. My PhD was completed at Capella University where my major was teaching and learning.
Teaching Experience spans kindergarten to teaching doctoral students as well as chairing dissertation committees. I currently live in Schererville with my husband and Havanese dog Lucy.
I have three grown sons and five grandchildren.
As a family, we are very sports-minded and enjoy cheering our favorite teams The Chicago White Sox and Indianapolis Colts.
I have been so very welcomed into the Longfellow family and enjoy working with both students and faculty.
