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Ms. Andrews

¡Hola! Me llamo Katie Andrews y soy la maestra bilingüe del tercer grado. Este es mi sexto año de enseñanza y mi tercer año en la escuela Hilltop. Asistí a la universidad de Northern Illinois University y recibí mi licenciatura en traducción al español y negocios en 2013. En 2018, recibí mi licenciatura en la educación primaria. Durante mi tiempo en la universidad, estudié en España, específicamente en la ciudad de Toledo. El objetivo de mi salón es que los alumnos tengan el orgullo de ser bilingües. En mi tiempo libre, me gusta pasar tiempo con mi esposo y mi perro, viajar, y competir en una liga de bolos.

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Kristina Harvey

Hi! I am so excited to be teaching 3rd grade at Hilltop! While this is not my first year teaching it is my first year here! I am a huge D15 fan as all 3 of our kids have grown up in this district! I got my elementary education and early childhood teaching degree from Western Illinois University and my masters degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University. 
 
My goal for this school year is to help all of my students grow academically and personally, build their confidence, and remind them daily that they are capable of amazing things! I believe learning should be engaging, challenging, and sprinkled with plenty of smiles along the way! 
 
Outside of school I love spending time with my family (that includes our dog Teddy who thinks he is one of our kiddos too!).
My husband and I were high school sweethearts and have 3 amazing kiddos!
Madison is a sophomore at University of South Carolina, Makenna is a freshman soccer player at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and Chase is a 7th grader at Parkland. 
Funny fact - I am the shortest in my family and they remind me of it all the time!!
We love to travel and are constantly on sports fields for all the kids. I love to play pickleball, read, cook, and soak up sunshine at the beach. I am very passionate about health, wellness, and fitness and love finding ways to bring positive energy and encouragement into every part of my life and those around me! 

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Mrs. Ullsmith

Hi! My name is Carissa Ullsmith and this is my 4th year teaching third grade here at Hilltop. I graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and an endorsement in English as a Second Language. I love third grade because the students are at an age where they are ready to be challenged and take ownership of their learning. My goal is to support and guide them in this process. When I am not at school I enjoy kayaking, hiking, and traveling with family.

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Megan Newsome

Hello! My name is Meg Newsome and I am excited to be teaching third grade here at Hilltop. I strive to create a classroom where kindness and respect are not just taught, but practiced daily. My goal is that each child grows into a confident, compassionate, and well-rounded individual. Outside of the classroom, I cherish time spent with my boys, exploring and creating with a variety of art materials, dancing, and I am an avid reader.

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Jenny Winn

Welcome back to school, and welcome to 3rd Grade!! 3rd grade is going to be a really important year. You are going to learn a ton of awesome things. We're also going to have a lot of fun learning them!

I am excited to be in my second year teaching at Hilltop here in District 15! I have lived in McHenry for 12 years. I have two daughters. One is 18 and is a Freshman at George Fox University in OR, and the other is a 5th grader at Duker. I taught 4th grade at West Elementary School in Zion, IL for two years. I ran an In Home Day Care for 15 years after having my kids. Before that I was an ELL aide one year, and a One on One aide for two years in Prairie Grove and Johnsburg. And before that I was a substitute teacher. I got my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. I absolutely love working with kids. It fills my heart with joy. 
 
I am so blessed to live right in McHenry 10 minutes away from Hilltop Elementary. I have been married for 20 years. My favorite things to do are to: read, go for walks/hikes, swim/hang out at the beach, spend time with my family, serve and worship with my church family at Hope Covenant, teach and work with kids. 
 
Hilltop Elementary is a school filled with staff that care deeply for the students. I am incredibly blessed to be part of this fantastic community. 
 

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Emily Frieden

Hello! My name is Emily Frieden and I am so excited to be teaching 3rd grade at Hilltop! I graduated from The University of Iowa with a degree in Elementary Education and a reading endorsement. This will be my 7th year teaching. I have previously taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade at Woods Creek Elementary in Crystal Lake. 
I live in Twin Lakes, WI with my husband, Cameron, our new daughter Finley, our dog Beau, and our Axolotl Axel. In my free time, I love listening to Taylor Swift and reading! 
Third grade is a wonderful year of learning and growing, and I can't wait to be by your side throughout it all. I look forward to a wonderful year together!