Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to Summit! My name is Mr. Greenlee, and I am a sixth grade math and science teacher at Summit. I have been teaching for twenty years. The first two years I spent at a middle school in the Des Moines Public School District and the last fifteen at Summit. I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Special Education. Iowa State University is also where I did my graduate work. I graduated in December of 2010 with a Masters degree in Educational Administration.
Sixth grade is an exciting time for students; however, the transition from elementary school to middle school can bring forth some anxious feelings for students and parents alike. The classroom configurations at Summit allow for a gradual release of responsibility from teachers and parents to students in becoming increasingly more independent in academics and social development. Students will have a base camp teacher, a switch teacher, and a couple of exploratory teachers. In my classroom, we work toward becoming a community of learners, each looking out for one another along with each individual focusing on becoming an advocate for their own academic and social development.
I believe middle school is a time for students to discover who they are and to become advocates for their own learning and social development. Along the way, there will be struggles, successes, and failures. It is my job to work with students while they struggle, cheer them on when they succeed, and pick them up and get them back on their feet when they fall. If you or your child has any concerns, please email or call me as soon as possible. I want to make every effort possible to ensure that your child has a successful and memorable experience.
