About The Teacher

NAME: Donna Neill

SCHOOL: Sycamore Canyon School

CLASS: Kindergarten

SCHOOL PHONE: 805-498-1573 x302

About The Teacher

I have lived in southern California my whole life.  I have two brothers and
three sisters.  My sisters are still here in Southern California and we are
very close.  I was born in Pasadena, grew up in Woodland Hills, and moved to
the Conejo Valley in 1980.  I have three wonderful children.  My son Raymond,
22, is studying Radiology in college and working in the school district's
child care program at Ladera Elementary School.  My son Jonathon, 21, is
seeking a professional dance career.  He is currently in Japan tap dancing in
a show at Tokyo Disney.  And my daughter Amber, 19, is a Theatre major in
college and (like one of her brothers) is currently working for the school
district's after school child care program.  I love animals.  I have a cat,
two Jack Russell dogs, two turtles, four Cockatiel birds, an aquarium and a
koi pond.  I also love every aspect of the performing arts and gardening.  I
bought an older home here in Newbury Park two years ago and we are in the
never-ending process of repairing it.  We feel very happy to be living in such
a beautiful area.

I have always wanted to be a teacher.  I taught Preschool at Monte Vista
Preschool way back when my daugher was in preschool.  After a year of teaching
preschool, I decided to move on to the elementary school setting where I have
been ever since.  I taught Kindergarten, First grade and Second grade at
Acacia Elementary School.  Then I was invited to teach at Sycamore Canyon
School when it opened, where I have been ever since.  I have taught First
grade and Kindergarten at Sycamore.  I have a Masters Degree in Education with
a focus on Literacy.  I am excited to be teaming once again with my friend and
colleague, Kira Krukowski.  She and I work very well together and we both love
teaching young children.  I am fortunate to be a part of your children's
lives, and I look forward to spending the days with them and watching them grow!

Mission Statement

My mission is to guide and facilitate each student's learning and to support
each child in reaching his/her potential.  Students will learn to be
respectful, responsible, and understanding individuals.  I will guide the
students with patience, enjoyment, and respect.  I will accept each child as
an individual, and provide a safe and engaging learning environment that meets
the needs of the whole child.  I will make myself available and approachable
to my students.  I will be firm, fair and kind.  I will show the students that
life is full of choices, and lead them into making the right choices for
themselves which will build independence and strength in them.  I will teach
acceptance and appreciation.  I will form a partnership between the students,
parents and myself as we work together to cultivate the fundamental skills of
critical thinking, learning, problem-solving and communicating effectively
while instilling good character and positive attitudes in order to develop
lifelong learners.