AHS Teacher Profile: Kelsey Tomlinson

Ms. Tomlinson is an energetic and dynamic English teacher at Arcadia.  For the past two years, she taught English III and IV, and this year added English I.   She says teaching freshmen is very different, but a lot of fun!  When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, she replied, “The students, and also the fact that teaching offers something new every day.  Although you might teach the same material, it is always different because of the different conversations with each class.”

Ms. Tomlinson’s entire family graduated from SUSD schools!  Her mom went to Saguaro, her dad Scottsdale High School (which closed in 1983), and she and her siblings attended Chaparral.  Kelsey even did her student teaching at Saguaro High School!  Her education includes:

• BA English Literature, ASU
• Masters Secondary Education, ASU (graduated Suma Cum Laude)

In addition to teaching English at Arcadia, Ms. Tomlinson is the Varsity Pom Coach at Chaparral High School.  She began dancing at 2yrs old, and was able to put her many years of experience to work in high school-  she was the first freshman to ever make the Varsity Pom Line at Chaparral.  She was on Pom all four years and is proud to share that they won State her Senior year!  It was the first year Pom was recognized as an official AIA sport.  Ms. Tomlinson does not dance any more, however, she teaches dance professionally all over the country.  During the past two summers, she even traveled to Scottland to dance!

At Arcadia, Ms. Tomlinson is part of Site Council and the Attendance Committee.  In addition, at October’s teacher in-service, she was a lead for one of the breakout sessions where she shared Socratic teaching techniques.  

WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD?
My family.  They all still live close by.  My grandparents too!

HOBBIES OR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WHEN NOT WORKING
I like to read, run, and I am learning to cook.

DOG OR CAT PERSON?
Dog

A RANDOM FACT ABOUT MS TOMLINSON:
I was born in Hawaii.

Submitted Fall 2016

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