Get to Know…Mrs. Biederman!

Get to Know…Mrs. Biederman!

Mrs. Emily Biederman is the district’s new K-12 Teacher Librarian. A native of Tama County, she grew up in Dysart and graduated from Union High School in La Porte City.  She holds a bachelor's degree from UNI in English Education with a 5-12 reading endorsement and a minor in creative writing. She is also currently attending UNI working on a Master's degree in School Library Science.  G-R is sharing her time with the Grundy Center Schools, where she is also serving as a Teacher Librarian. Here are a few fun facts about Mrs. Biederman:

Favorite subject when you were a student:  English

Favorite sport or activity in high school:  Show choir or the musical

Hobbies:  Playing piano, cooking and baking, golf, reading, watching new movies (whether seeing them in the theater or watching movies from my own DVD selection repeatedly!

Initial impressions of G-R:   My initial impression of G-R was how welcoming all the staff is! From the minute I stepped into the door on my first day of new teacher orientation, I was greeted by a member of the maintenance staff, who said she is there if I have any questions. As I am meeting each new teacher and member of staff, everyone has let me know they are there for support with any questions I may have, no matter how "silly" my question is. G-R is not just a group of people dedicated to the education of students, but also a family who treat each other with respect and are constantly helping each other be the best educator they can be. I look forward to being in an environment which facilitates personal educational growth, but also enjoys each other's company.

Prior Teaching Experience:  This is my first year as a teacher. I had previously student taught at North Tama JH/HS in the fall of 2013 and substitute taught for North Tama and Union until accepting a non-teaching position for a Waterloo company. After being accepted back at UNI for my Master's degree, I am very excited to get back into teaching!

Your favorite teacher:  Mrs. Ford, my now retired English teacher from Union High School. Some students thought she was too harsh, and I agree that she had a tough grading scale, but I learned more in one of her classes than I learned from other teachers in an entire school year. She was honest when grading my papers and by the end of each unit, I felt like I had grown and would grow even more in the next unit. She was constantly pushing each student to challenge themselves; if they didn't agree with the grade she had given them, or wanted to know why they had earned it, she took the time to sit down with us and explain her rationale. All she wanted was for her students to succeed, and if that meant tough love, that's what she did.

A funny story from your school days:  I earned the role of the Statue of Liberty for my fifth grade spring concert, but the night before the concert I slept in the wrong position and woke up with a sore neck. I went to the chiropractor and still could not straighten it by showtime, but I was not giving up this role that I had auditioned and memorized lines for, so I was the Statue of Liberty with a crooked neck!

Why did you become a teacher?  My aunt, who taught middle school language arts, and was my teacher for three years, inspired me to become a teacher. She was an engaging teacher and made learning fun! I looked forward to coming to her class each day, not only because she was my aunt or because English was my strongest subject, but because of the way she taught her lessons. I wanted to have that same impact on students of my own someday.

Favorite Superhero:  Ironman - he is smart but still has a great sense of humor!

Favorite author:  Shel Silverstein

Last book you read: Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly

All-time favorite book:  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling is probably my favorite book. It was really hard to choose my "absolute favorite" book because I have read so many good ones! I ended up choosing the first book in the Harry Potter series because the first time I read it, I remember thinking it was unlike any book or series I had ever read. The author had created an amazing new universe that was completely realistic. The book was written in such a manner that I was unable to put it down! I remember reading this in the summer after my sixth grade year and cozying up in my living room to read instead of going to the pool with all my friends. I not only read this book once, but have read the entire series at least three times (not including the most recent "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" book - I've only read that one once at this point)! I like that this book (and series) is enjoyed by audiences of all ages - from elementary kids to adults!

We’re pleased to have Mrs. Biederman join the faculty and the G-R family! Welcome to Gladbrook-Reinbeck!