About

Hey

I’m Kirsten

I’m so glad you’re here! I taught Kindergarten, third, and fifth grade for 8 years, but upper elementary has my heart. I’m always finding ways put a creative twist on standards or topics that might feel a little boring to teach, and I love helping other teachers do the same. Besides working as a teacherpreneur, I’m also a mama of 3 (we have Number Blocks, Super Simple Songs, and Peppa Pig on repeat over here). Coffee is my BFF. Wine and cheese are my jam. British baking competitions, TLC reality shows, running, and barre class bring me joy. My taste in music ranges from 70’s light rock, 00’s hip-hop, and everything in between!

Background

As my name suggests, I am truly a Southern gal at heart. I have lived in the south all my life, with the majority of my years spent in Texas. I graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S in Psychology and received a M.Ed in Elementary Education. During my master’s program, I received a teaching certificate and am certified in EC-6th grade, as well as English as a Second Language and Gifted and Talented. The Southern Teach started as a small shop with just a few resources on TPT during my student teaching year in 2013. It’s grown and expanded into so much more! I’ve had the opportunity to present to other educators and teacher sellers around the globe and continue to research and learn best teaching practices and pedagogy.

My Family

The same year I started my TPT store, I met my husband. We eventually got married and in 2019 we had our first son. Up until then I had been dedicating my heart and soul to the teaching profession. It was during the 2020 pandemic when I picked up and dusted off my tiny TPT store and added more teaching resources for others. In 2021 after our second son was born, I decided to leave the classroom to be a work-from-home mom. I currently work from home while also taking care of our 3 little ones. I love being able to support teachers and students with resources I created for my students in the classroom, as well as resources I wish I had while teaching.

My Teaching Values

Here’s what I believe in:

  • Teachers should have access to resources that are easy to prep and aren’t time-consuming, full of fluff, or overwhelming.
  • Every teacher has the potential to meet the needs of all learners by having a fun, engaging, and positive classroom community.
  • Teachers don’t have to compromise their work/life balance and can enjoy what they do without feeling burned out or overwhelmed.
  • My goal is to help and inspire upper elementary teachers to unlock their full potential. Know that I’m here for you!
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