Mrs. Kinne’s experience encompasses working as a preschool aide, pupil support assistant, private tutor, substitute teacher, remedial teacher, kindergarten teacher and first grade teacher. She has been on the staff at St. Ambrose since 2006. Mrs. Kinne has a B.A. in Elementary Education and Specific Learning Disabilities from St. Mary’s University and a Kindergarten Certification from the College of St. Catherine.
When Mrs. Kinne entered college, she knew that she wanted to serve others and felt that going into education would allow her to use her creativity, organization and patience to serve others. She believes her role as an educator is to make her students feel safe, welcomed and valued. She strives to build a classroom community where children respect one another, treat one another fairly and do their best. Mrs. Kinne’s favorite lesson is “what is prayer?” – students learn that if they want God as a friend, prayer is the way to build that relationship. As the year progresses, students discover the power of prayer in their own lives and the lives of other people.
Mrs. Kinne enjoys being a part of the St. Ambrose community. She feels that teaching at a Catholic school provides children with a unique environment for living their faith, and the sense of community that comes from shared values enhances communications and goal setting among students, teachers, parents and administration. Mrs. Kinne is married and has three grown boys. She enjoys reading, collecting children’s literature and gardening. She also is active in her home parish and is currently serving as a Eucharistic Minister.
“Working with kindergarten students for most of my teaching career, I have learned that five- and six-year-olds have many similarities, but all of my students are unique individuals. Their challenges become my challenges. All of the challenges I have encountered increase my knowledge and repertoire of teaching strategies. Each year, my students make great gains emotionally, academically and spiritually. In turn, I grow right along with them and am grateful for the journey.” – Caroline Kinne