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  From Here to Anywhere

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    5TH GRADE

    Janet Payne
    4th/5th Grade
    Janet Payne 
    My name in Janet Payne, and I currently teach fourth grade. I received my Bachelor’s degree in History from U.C.L.A and my teaching credential from California State University, Northridge. I was raised in the San Fernando Valley and moved to Simi Valley in 1999. I have taught kindergarten through fifth grade and each grade is special, but I really love teaching the upper grades. I enjoy challenging students to be curious and take chances with their learning. I also have a passion for helping all children reach their potential. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking, and traveling.

    Kristine Minter
    5th Grade / 6th Grade Split

    MinterHi! I am Kristine Minter. I was born and raised in Thousand Oaks. My mom was an office manager in the Conejo Valley school district for many years. My husband and I live here in Simi Valley and we welcomed our first child in 2021.

    I earned my AA from Moorpark college and then I transferred to Cal Poly, Pomona for my BA in Liberal Studies. From there, I attended San Francisco State University for my credential program. I have taught 6th and 7th grade for 5 years at a middle school in Canoga Park. I feel so lucky to be part of the Sycamore staff.  In my spare time, I enjoy being around my family and riding dirt bikes in the desert! Teaching is my passion. I believe EVERY child has the right to a high quality education.

    Jennifer Waer 
    4th/5th Special Day Class 
    Jennifer Waer
    My name is Jennifer Waer. I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley with my younger brother, Patrick. Most people assume that I became interested in special education because he has Down syndrome, but even before he was born when I was nine, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I got my undergraduate degree at Cal Lutheran University and my teaching credential at CSUN, during which time I worked as a paraprofessional at the fully inclusive CHIME Charter Elementary School. I completed my student teaching at Santa Su High in the spring of 2003 and started working at Sycamore the following fall. I've taught here ever since. In my spare time, I enjoy writing and photography. I'm also interested in the history of World War II, the development of different languages and accents, and I am a lifelong "Star Trek" fan. I love teaching my students because every year is different and presents new and exciting challenges and things to learn. I believe my job is to meet each student exactly where they are and move them as far forward as our combined efforts can get them.  

    Sycamore Elementary School

    2100 Ravenna St., Simi Valley, CA 93065 
    805-520-6745 Phone | 805-520-6123 Fax

    The Governing Board is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital, pregnancy, or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

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