Welcome to our 3rd grade class!
We are starting off the 2011-2012 school year with high hopes and expectations. This year is going to be memorable and full of learning! The two teachers in 3rd grade are Julie Lawler and Annie Watkins. Both of us are so excited to start this new year and are looking forward to getting to know each and every one of our students and their parents. Let's make this a great year!
3rd grade teachers at TSD
Julie Lawler
Hello! My name is Julie Lawler. I will be your child’s third grade teacher this year at TSD, along with Marlon Wynne and Annie Watkins. This will be my fourth year at TSD teaching 3rd grade. I look forward to teaching your child and showing them how much the can achieve!!!
I want to start off by giving you all some background information about myself. I grew up in College Station, Texas with my parents and 4 siblings. One of the best things about moving to Austin is that I have been able to be back in the same state as the rest of my family. I love spending time with my 3 nephews (Caden, Wyatt and Cody) and my niece (Bailey).
My quest for education has taken me both to the west coast and to the east coast. For my undergraduate degree, I went to Tucson, Arizona where I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Deaf Studies at the University of Arizona. I enjoyed the west coast pace of life and experiencing all the great Mexican food! Now looking back on my time there in Arizona, I miss the spectacular sunsets and mountain ranges that encompass the city of Tucson. After graduation, I headed back to Texas to work as an educational interpreter at Bryan ISD. I enjoyed the people that I worked with over the two years that I was there but there was always something missing. It became clear that I wanted to become a Deaf Education teacher soon after my first year of working at Bryan but it took me a while to figure out where I wanted to get my MA degree. In the back of my mind I knew that Gallaudet would be the best place to immerse myself into an environment where I could further develop my skills and grow academically, socially, and culturally. In 2005, I entered Gallaudet’s MA Deaf Education program and where I fell in love with Washington, D.C. At Gallaudet I made some slight alterations to my original plan, and decided to obtain my 2nd B.A. in Elementary Education along with my Master’s in Teaching (MAT: focus on ASL/English Bilingual Education). Now looking back at my time at Gallaudet, I know for sure that I made the right decision three years ago. So I loved my time on the east coast, I fell in love with Washington, DC and all it had to offer. I got the chance to go back to Gallaudet/Washington DC last summer and it just brought back found memories.
I look forward to meeting you and I am thrilled to be teaching your child this year!
Sincerely,
Ms. Julie Lawler
Here is my contact information:
Julie Lawler: julie.lawler@tsd.state.tx.us
Annie Watkins
Dear parents and families,
I would like to welcome you to the third grade! This year will be full of excitement and learning that will help each student grow to their potential. My name is Annie Watkins and I will be working with your child this school year. This is my first year working at the Texas School for the Deaf. In June, I moved from Minnesota down to Austin. While in Minnesota I worked as a teacher for one year with students grades 3 through 6. I attended Saint Catherine University for my bachelors degree in American Sign Language/Interpreting. I then received my masters degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. I have two dogs who I treat like children and I love to sew!
Each student is a unique individual with their own needs. Teachers must approach each student with a new set of eyes and an open mind. Pin-holing students will not allow for full growth academically or as an individual. Waking up everyday and working for the students is my main goal. Getting to know every student and how they learn best is the only way to effectively challenge each student to learn.
This year, Marlon Wynne and Julie Lawler will be joining me in a team teaching approach in order to maximize resources and provide a learning environment that can accommodate all students. Attached, you will find the items your child will need for the school year. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Annie Watkins
Annie.Watkins@tsd.state.tx.us