My name is Mrs. Christine Vanwyhe (van-why)

I am a third grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary. I am a south side Des Moines high school graduate. Go Rails! I have an elementary bachelor’s degree (K-6) from Upper Iowa University.  I received two endorsement in that field. One in language arts and the other is in reading. I also have a master’s degree in education from Graceland University. In addition to those degrees, I have attended over thirty credit hours of training at Heartland Area Education Agency.

Before teaching, I worked at Flowers by Anthony and continued to do that for seventeen years on the weekends and in the summer. Then I graduated after going to school full-time and working full-time.  I spent fifteen years teaching middle school on the south side of Des Moines at Brody. Go Cardinals! I taught a variety of reading, language arts, social studies, math, and science classes over the years, mainly 6th grade but some 8th grade. I moved to elementary several years ago. Now, here I am. Over twenty years of teaching experience, and still every day is a brand new experience.

In my spare time I’m a mom to a high school teenage girl, a wife, a step-mom to a tweener, a crafter, an up-cycler, a dog lover, a volunteer, a holiday decorator, a shopper, a nature lover, and always try to have a fun event to attend.  I am always on the go and wouldn’t change a thing.

The one thing I am truly passionate about is being happy in my professional and personal life. I try to look for the bright side, speak of only positivity and surround myself with positive people. I want to promote a positive vibe wherever I am. I want it to be contagious. I am an educator, but I am also only human.  I try my very best every day to live, work, and play happily learning MY every day lesson in life.