Fifth Grade

Welcome to 5th grade! The fifth grade team at Kellogg is dedicated to the betterment of the whole child. We know the importance of reading, writing, math, science and social studies, but we also value the arts and the emotional intelligence of each student. Learning should be rigorous and fun. We strive to create a learning atmosphere that embraces and accepts all students, as well as teaches about kindness, respect and empathy.

Libby

Baker

Welcome to 5th grade! I'm thrilled to be teaching at Kellogg School where I was once a Kellogg Bulldog years ago! This will be my 2nd year at Kellogg and 6th year teaching in GUSD. I attended Westmont College where I graduated with a degree in Liberal Studies and obtained my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. 

 

My greatest hope as a teacher is to foster a safe and respectful learning environment where students grow a love for learning. I enjoy motivating students to be curious learners and encourage them to uphold a growth mindset, especially when confronting challenging topics and skills. I always look for ways to make learning accessible to all children so they can each be successful in the classroom.

 

While I'm not teaching, I enjoy running and taking walks by the beach, watercoloring, and spending time with friends and family.

Tyler Wilkes

Welcome to my webpage!  I am so happy to have your attention for the next few minutes! Most of what you are going to read is true information about me. Enjoy!

 

I went into teaching because I love being around kids. Some say it’s because I have the maturity level of a 10-year-old, but I like to think it’s because I’m on a mission to educate the leaders of the future (or, maybe both). I have taught in Goleta for 14 years. The first few in 4th grade and the last eleven in 5th.  This is my fourth year at Kellogg, all prior years were at Hollister. I grew up in Santa Barbara and went to school in Goleta! I actually had my first ever baseball practice on Kellogg’s field. I later went on to play baseball at DP, where I hit 2 home runs every game, leading the Chargers to win the World Championship.

My wife Natalie is also a teacher and teaches first grade at Monte Vista Elementary School. We have 3 great children, Leo, Summer and TJ. We love to go to the beach, swim, ride bikes and eat. We also have a few pets: 7 St. Bernards, 11 cats, 12 guinea pigs, 45 hamsters, and an entire school of deadly piranhas. 

In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, beach volleyball, soccer, football and playing the drums. I also play the guitar, if owning a guitar and knowing how to play 2 chords counts as playing guitar.

In my classroom I love to challenge, play, excite, learn, fail and grow.  Juicy mistakes are heavily rewarded because of their importance in the learning process. My classroom is a place to learn and have fun at the same time.

Go Bulldogs!

Stephanie Kasai

Welcome! I am so excited to be a 5th grade teacher. This is my sixth year at Kellogg Elementary.I was born and raised in the LA area with Japanese as my first language and English as my second. I am so grateful to be at Kellogg School with such an amazing staff and wonderful families to work with. I earned my undergraduate degree, Masters in Education, and Teaching Credential from UC Santa Barbara. Go Gauchos! 

My love for working with children began in special education when I worked as a paraeducator for an organization dedicated to children with special needs and medical conditions. I eventually began teaching after moving to Japan to teach English in an after school university program for two years. What I find the most rewarding about teaching is forming relationships with each student and learning so much about each child’s unique qualities, backgrounds, and cultures. I strongly believe that learning happens most when a child is in an environment where she/he/they feels welcomed, valued, and cared for. It’s also such a privilege and honor to play a role in a child’s foundational learning and to be able to watch our students do things that they weren’t able to do before. It is amazing to see all of the growth that happens within a school year and I am truly lucky to be able to witness it.