All About the Teacher
Please let me introduce myself. My name is Mrs. Joanie Balwinski, and I will be your child's fourth grade teacher.
It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was an elementary school student in Utica Community Schools. I attended Monfort Elementary, Shelby Junior High School, and Eisenhower High School. I am a proud graduate of UCS! I had many teachers along my educational journey who inspired me to want to become a teacher. My favorite teacher was Mr. Prill, my high school Geometry teacher. He was the first teacher that made math fun by relating it to real world experiences. The class was also enjoyable, because he never took himself too seriously. I attended Wayne State University and Michigan State University for my Bachelor's Degree, GO SPARTANS! I received my Master's Degree and +15 studies from Marygrove College. I was fortunate to receive a job in Utica Community Schools just a few months after graduation. I have finally come full circle in UCS! I began teaching in the fall of 1999, and I have been lucky to spend all of my teaching years at Morgan Elementary. The best part of teaching in elementary school is making learning fun, seeing the excitement in student's eyes when they achieve success, and knowing that I make a difference.
It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was an elementary school student in Utica Community Schools. I attended Monfort Elementary, Shelby Junior High School, and Eisenhower High School. I am a proud graduate of UCS! I had many teachers along my educational journey who inspired me to want to become a teacher. My favorite teacher was Mr. Prill, my high school Geometry teacher. He was the first teacher that made math fun by relating it to real world experiences. The class was also enjoyable, because he never took himself too seriously. I attended Wayne State University and Michigan State University for my Bachelor's Degree, GO SPARTANS! I received my Master's Degree and +15 studies from Marygrove College. I was fortunate to receive a job in Utica Community Schools just a few months after graduation. I have finally come full circle in UCS! I began teaching in the fall of 1999, and I have been lucky to spend all of my teaching years at Morgan Elementary. The best part of teaching in elementary school is making learning fun, seeing the excitement in student's eyes when they achieve success, and knowing that I make a difference.
My Hobbies
My hobbies include:
- Traveling
- Visiting National Parks
- Spending time outdoors in the sunshine and enjoying the Great Lakes
- Remodeling / Home Improvements
- Watching Big 10 Football (GO STATE!)
- Cheering on the Detroit Lions
- Reading
- Watching Movies
- Spending Time with Friends and Family
- Shopping at Partridge Creek and The Apple Store
- Playing Board Games and Card Games
- Letterboxing (www.atlasquest.com)
- Always learning and trying to be the best I can be! Life is too short!