About Ms. van Buren

Room: 948

School Phone: 314-415-7978

School Fax: 314-415-7913

E-mail: avanburen@pkwy.k12.mo.us

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Where did you go to high school?

Everyone seems to ask that question... I grew up in Hazelwood, MO., but moved with my family to St. Charles after my first year of high school, and graduated from Francis Howell North. In high school I was involved in MANY activities, but my favorites were newspaper, theater, the literary magazine, and the swim team. After high school, I attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where I studied Secondary English Education and journalism. At the student newspaper, The Maneater, at different times, I was a writer, copyeditor, designer, Features and Centerspread editor, Arts and Entertainment editor, and summer Production Manager. In 2002, I started teaching at Parkway Central.

I'm also working on my Master's degree through MU. In the little spare time that I manage to have, I enjoy reading and spending time with my husband and our 6-year-old Bichon Frise.

Some of my favorites...

Books	Movies	Bands	Magazines
Raise the Roof Beam High by J. D. Salinger, Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams See my list of most anticipated new books!	all the Harry Potter movies, Napoleon Dynamite, The Labyrinth, and Super Size Me	Belle and Sebastian, Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, Fugazi, Yo La Tengo, and many more	The New Yorker, Wired, Spin, and Nylon

Confessions of A Happy Teacher

By Mary Kim Schreck from The Red Desk

(Note: The author is MY favorite High School English teacher)

I confess

nothing is so satisfying

as watching

the lessons I've worked so hard

to create

play out better

than could have been imagined.

Nothing can compare

with the feeling

of having taught well:

watching eyes light up

curiosity ignited

smiles on student faces.

I apologize

but I'm happy with my schedule

my number of students

my current grade level.

I actually

love coming to school.

Yes, often I arrive early -

and yes, I find teaching fun.

Of course

I have my bad days -

who doesn't?

But they don't spread

a layer of poison

over me and

they don't infect others.

Yes,

I'm guilty

of spending more time

than many on my preparations -

spending way too much money

on supplies -

but I'm addicted to the joy

of teaching well

and I can't help myself.

I admit to stealing.

Stealing every "cool idea,"

strategy, lesson

I can.

No new teaching idea is safe

while I'm around.

Call me an academic klepto

if you wish.

And while I'm at it -

I might as well admit

that I worry.

I have a hard time

forgetting about my students

when the last bell rings.

I want them safe

and happy and loved

when they leave my room.

I want life

to be as fair to them

as I try to be.

Judge me

however you may.

I confess

that "teacher"

is the most beautiful title

I could ever possess

and my proudest

descriptor to date

Professional sites:

Other sites:

PCHS student newspaper, the Corral
Marquette High School TV
My Multimedia Showcase (for MU graduate class, summer 2007) online
MU School of Information Sciences
Catalog your home library online with Library Thing

Date Created: July 21, 2007

Date Updated: August 1, 2007