950 West 22nd Ave.

Eugene, OR 97405

(541) 790-5000

Fax: (541) 790-5005

irvine_p@4j.lane.edu

Adams Elementary

The Friendly Neighborhood School

 

Faculty and Staff


 



Dr. Pamela Irvine - "I fell in love with teaching when I worked as a camp counselor in high school. I majored in sociology at Whitman College, with minors in psychology and elementary education. I taught for three years in Australia immediately after graduation, and then worked in a school with primarily African American children in Aiken, South Carolina. I attended graduate school at the University of Oregon, receiving a Masters in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction, a second Masters in School Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, as well as an administrative credential. I have taught straight grades 2 and 4, and blended grades 2/3, 3/4, and 4/5. I have worked as a teacher, school psychologist, Director of Special Education, Director of Special Services and Curriculum, and a principal. This coming school year will mark my 33rd year in education. I have been lucky. I have the best job in the world. In my spare time, I like to read, cook and travel." Dr. Irvine can be contacted at irvine_p@4j.lane.edu.



Molly Hansbrough - " As the last certified elementary school librarian left in 4J, I have the honor of working in the beautiful Adams Library that I helped design and open 15 years ago. I feel privileged to work for a staff that values a strong library program in the face of budget cuts and bigger classes. I have been a librarian with the district for 32 years and am actually retiring this year but staying at Adams part-time to continue serving the Adams Family who is so dear to my heart. In 2005, I won an award as the #1 librarian in the state and I just don't want to stop doing what I love. I also review children's books for the Register Guard about 4 times a year with other librarians for the Monday Education Extra. Our library also has a great website with lots of links for families and teachers and a link to our on-line catalog. Our collection is fabulous and we consider ourselves a community resource, welcoming parents as well. After growing up in Cincinnati Ohio and attending college in Wisconsin, I came to Eugene to get a Master of Library Science degree and a teaching certificate and never left. My husband and I have raised three children in Coburg in an old house we restored. We have a fabulous yard and garden that takes up a big part of my time, but I make time for reading, walking, dancing, yoga and cooking. I also love to travel and will be taking many more trips to Latin America to practice my Spanish and relax in a culture I love." Molly can be contacted at hansbrough@4j.lane.edu.



Sally Webber, Kindergarten Teacher - My Kindergarten classroom reflects the passion I feel about children connecting to a joyful community of diverse learners.  The atmosphere is nurturing, respectful, and inclusive of various learning styles and unique strengths.  My background includes growing up on the East coast, attending American University for 4 years, traveling around the world, and then on to Chapman College to complete my teaching degree. 

    Eugene has been my home for the past 30 years.  Our four children were raised in Eugene and attended 4J schools.  They are continuing their educations through college, work, and travel.  I have taught 1st grade, 3rd grade and middle school but my favorite continues to be Kindergarten after 29 years of classroom teaching.

    Excellence in Kindergarten involves experiences in math, art, music, science, cooperative learning, respectful connections with families, and immersion in a literary-rich environment. My Kindergarten students are guided and supported with developmental sensitivity and knowledge of the scaffolding required to acquire literacy skills.  I am committed to instilling the desire to read while engaging a child’s natural curiosity with authentic and meaningful hands-on activities.

    I enjoy spending time at the Oregon coast and, when possible, I escape to warm tropical beaches.  I have a small organic garden in my backyard and enjoy making additions to my native perennial shade garden.



Ashley Oakes, First Grade Teacher - "I am Ashley Oakes and I teach first grade in Room 9! I am very lucky to have an opportunity to teach such interested and unique students, as well as work with outstanding colleagues! This is my second year at Adams, my fourth year of teaching overall. I hail from Columbus, Ohio, and as most of you may already know, I am a big Buckeye Football fan! Most of my students know the OH-IO chant by the end of the first week so be prepared to hear it throughout the year! I knew that I would be a teacher years ago when I sat by my mother for hours just waiting to put a smiley face sticker on a very deserving spelling test! It must run in the family because I still love grading with seasonal stickers! More than grading with the perfect sticker, I love the sense of accomplishment that being a teacher gives me, thanks to my wonderful students!" Ashley can be contacted at oakes_a@4j.lane.edu.





Ann Piazza, 2nd grade Teacher - Welcome to 2nd grade! My name is Ms. Piazza. I have been teaching for 10 years mostly in the primary grades. I became a teacher because I enjoy kids and love to learn new things. Some of my hobbies are archery, reading, gaming with my son, biking, camping and gardening. I am half Italian and hope to make it to Italy some day along with a few other countries! Ciao!









Darby Randall, 3rd grade Teacher - I think I’ve always known that I wanted to be a teacher. For me school and learning were so much fun that I wanted to share it with other’s. I graduated from Oregon State University with both my Bachelors and Masters degree in Education but attended the University of Oregon to get my Elementary Certification and Reading Endorsement. (Sometimes I have trouble deciding whether I’m a Duck or a Beaver.) I have been teaching for 27 years and am excited to have been at Adams the last 8 years. Teaching 3rd grade is wonderful because of their questions and the fun seeing their excitement of learning. I live on a small farm in Creswell where I love to bring students out to see our animals, pick berries and look for insects in our slough. My husband and I like to spend time outdoors with our animals, gardening, travelling and playing with our granddaughters who live in Portland.



Beverly Lewis 3rd and 4th Grade - "Born and raised in New Jersey, I moved to Eugene in 1973. I attended the University of Oregon, where I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees. I also have a reading endorsement. After 14 years teaching first and second grade, I switched, last year, to a third and fourth grade blended classroom and this year I will teach a straight fourth grade. I am looking forward to an exciting year with lots of new activities and new things to learn for all of us." Beverly can be contacted at lewis_b@4j.lane.edu.







Catherine Kotlarek-James - 4th and 5th grade Teacher

I am one of the increasingly rare creatures - native Oregonians - born and raised in Eugene, and a product of 4J schools from kindergarten through graduation from South Eugene High School. After five years living in Tacoma, Washington, I came home to Eugene to begin my life as a single parent raising my two wonderful children. I returned to school as a "non-traditional" student, earning my Masters Degree in elementary education from the U of O in 2002. My now teenage children attended 4j schools, with my daughter currently at the University of Oregon and my son at Churchill High School. After spending a couple of years working as a guest teacher, I joined the staff at Adams, first as a part-time Title 1 coordinator, and the following year as a fourth/fifth grade classroom teacher.

    Issues of equity and inclusion are passions of mine, and I love bringing the world into the classroom, expanding students' awareness about other places and people and discovering our connections. Some of my other "loves" are dance, manatees, reading, the Oregon Coast, drawing, maps, music, football, baby animals, and the Ducks!. And someday I will take my dream vacation to East Africa!



Sheryl Aydelott - "Educational Experience: Starting 22st year as a 4th/5th classroom teacher at Adams Elementary, 3.5 years as Instructional Assistant in Kindergarten at Adams, 2 years as pre-school teacher. Personal Interests: reading, gardening, being outdoors, cooking, walking/hiking, sewing, knitting, needlework, music (singing, playing handbells, piano), doing stained glass, drawing, making hand-created paper, traveling, especially enjoy exploring Oregon, history, 'going green'. As a teacher, I challenge myself to understand and address the various learning styles a group of children may bring; and then provide a classroom environment in which each student can learn at his or her rate and level, experiencing challenge and success." Sheryl can be contacted at aydelott@4j.lane.edu.



Deborah Tanner: - "I was raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The love of teaching developed when I was a teenager babysitting and working with younger kids in youth programs. I have a degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Reading Education. I also have certification in ELL. I have taught 30+ years in Virginia, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon. My teaching experience includes all the elementary grades as well as 2/3 multiage and preschool. I have been a reading specialist at three different points in my career in between teaching in the classroom. I once had a teaching idea published in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Journal. I have two adult children. My daughter is a 2nd grade teacher in Arizona. I love my work and children and consider teaching my life passion. My husband and I spend time gardening, swimming, reading and watching archeology movies. We like being "green" and hang all our laundry out in the sun to dry. I consider the Adams' staff as some of the best I've experienced." Deborah can be contacted at tanner_d@4j.lane.edu.





Susan Brown: Regional Learning Center - "I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area where I met my husband. I've been teaching for 18 years. I graduated from the U of O with a B.S. in Education and a Masters in Special Education. I love what I do. It's challenging, rewarding, creative, exciting, frustrating and most of all fun. A favorite quote of mine is, "Stay close to the young and a little rubs off" (Alan Jay Lerner). I do believe that.

    My husband and I have two grown sons. If your child plays for Kidsports perhaps you've met my son, Matt, who is a Sports Manager. I love being with my family and close friends, jogging, biking, music and reading a good book. I'm also still learning how to play the guitar, so I empathize with anyone learning something new. Ours is a divided household when it comes to local sports teams - I'm a Duck and my husband is a Beaver.



Sandy Itzkowitz, Life Skills Teacher - Sandy Itzkowitz graduated from the University of Oregon with a Masters in Special Education.   She taught Resource Room, Special Skills, (similar to a regional learning center) and 2nd grade in Douglas County during her first 15 years of teaching.   She has been teaching Life Skills for Lane ESD since 1996.  

    Sandy loves working with children with special needs and discovering ways to ensure success for all students.   She believes strongly that students should have opportunities to be integrated with non-disabled peers and is excited to be working here at Adams where all students are valued and accepted.


Ann Parks, Learning Center Teacher - I was born on Long Island, New York. I attended college in upstate New York where I earned my bachelors degree studying Early Childhood Development and Family Services. I have always loved working with young children. I now have a little boy of my own, and I absolutely love being a Mom.

   I came to Eugene in 1997 to visit my brother and fell in love. Oregon is a beautiful and friendly place. For the first year and a half I worked at Willamette Family Treatment Center in their daycare facility working with children from parents recovering from drugs and alcohol. One year later I was hired at Lane Education Service District working with children with severe developmental disabilities. After six years of working as an instructional Assistant I was encouraged by a wonderful teacher to go back to school and obtain my Masters Degree in Education. In the summer of 2002, I was admitted into the Special Education program at the University of Oregon. I have since worked for the 4J school district for the last 6 years.

   In my spare time I love to cook, read, paint and play with my 6-month-old son. I am so happy to work at such a fun, friendly and caring school. Adams is the best. Go Ducks!

    


Paul Brown, Physical Education Teacher - Mr. Brown is a Eugene native and a native of Adams. He was a student from 1974-79 back in the days when 6th grade was in the elementary school. He just missed teaching alongside his own 4th grade teacher (1977-78) by three years. He graduated at the University of Oregon in 1993 before getting his teaching license at Concordia University in Portland in 1998. After enjoying 11 years in Portland, he returns with a wife, 9 year-old boy & girl twins and a 4 year-old boy and is glad to be home. In his second year at Adams, this is his first teaching assignment at the elementary level after teaching at the middle and high school levels and is loving the younger students. Being back at Adams alone is a treat but now teaching the children of a few childhood friends and neighbors makes the flashback special.