Barbora Bridle
Grade 5 Teacher
At WES Since: 2011-2014, returned in 2019
What is your philosophy on teaching?
My first year of teaching was in 5th grade and I was lucky to have an excellent mentor, who fondly referred to 5th grade as the “Cadillac year,” a coming-of-age year in elementary school. I have always loved this phrase and this grade level, because students are excited about learning, developing their opinions, and learning how to articulate the “whys.” They are becoming independent preteens, but still willing to take creative and academic risks. Grade 5 is thrilling!
Bio:
As a ten-year-old, I moved to the U.S. with my parents from Czechoslovakia (a country that no longer exists), none of us speaking more than a handful of English words. Teachers made a huge impact on my life. I wanted to give back to students in the same way, which is why I became a teacher. I grew up code-switching between the cultures of southern California and the Czech Republic. This contributes to my empathy for multicultural students.