About Mr. C
My Background in Education & Employment
I hold a Master's Degree in Elementary Education (K-9) with endorsements in Science and Social Studies along with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. I currently teach 4th grade in Elmhurst, IL and have been there since 2001.
Prior to teaching I was a before/after-school Daycare Supervisor as well as a Summer Program Coordinator/Supervisor for Hephzibah Children's Association in Oak Park, IL for 8 years.
My Philosophy of Learning
Learning is an adventure that is travelled by both student and teacher together. While answers are certainly important it's the pursuit of those answers that really counts. Strategies, skills, and cross-curricular connections are what makes learning a life-long skill. When there are student needs to be met in the learning process, whether it's a need for remedition or enrichment, it becomes the job of a teacher to help the student find ways to meet those needs. This can best be accomplished by hard work, tapping into the student's interests, and finding natural skills a student possesses; hence the adventure's core!
My Family
I am married to an articulate, loving person. Lindsay Casten, my wife, works at our church as the Children's Ministry Coordinator. Lindsay and I met while we were both teaching in Elmhurst. After our first child, Ava, was born we decided to have Lindsay to stay home to raise our children. Soon after Ava came Henry, and finally our youngest, Ella, arrived. Once Ella started kindergarten Lindsay decided to return to the field of education.
Our youngest, Ella, was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 2 in August of 2011. To learn more about SMA and Ella's journey we have a blog called "Ella's Corner".
Feel free to visit Ella's Corner using the button below!
Tutoring services (remediation and/or enrichment) delivered by a certified teacher (2001 - present) and 20+ years working directly with children.