Get to Know Us

List of 6 items.

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  Mr. Hargraves

  Fifth and Sixth Grade History
  Education: Elementary Education, University of Central Florida
  Length of time teaching: 8 Years

   

  How do you feel you can help students to “Start Here. Go Anywhere.” ?
  I feel that I can lead as an example since I graduated from Holy Trinity. This school opened possibilities for me to be able to go anywhere! However, I chose to come back here so that I could help students realize their abilities and intelligence.

   

  What motivated you to become a teacher?
  I became a teacher because I wanted to show students how fun learning can be. I wanted students to feel comfortable in my class and to be excited about coming to school. Young students are so wonderful because their potential is so great! They are capable of doing whatever they set their mind to. I wanted to ultimately play a part in that experience. My elementary teachers were strong, funny, and nurturing. They stood up for me at the playground and validated my opinions. To do that for another child is hard to pass up!

   

  What experiences or people have had the most influence on you?
  My father and mother have most influenced me because they are the absolute best. I understand that everyone claims to have the best parents, but they have not met Mr. Rich and Colleen Hargraves. They loved me, cared for me, and shaped my character by walking the talk. They worked hard in their job and in our home. My dad is my best friend. He listens when I talk and provides scripture to help me in hard times. He has a great sense of humor and he knows how to make me laugh. He is respected and loved by his fellow police officers and he has always made me feel safe. My mom is nurturing and tough at the same time. She knew how to take care of me when I was truly sick and she also knew when to give me a good kick in the butt. I deserved it. She also has a wonderful sense of humor and she is always there to laugh at my jokes. They both made me who I am today.

   

  What do you love about teaching? And/or teaching at HT?
  I love teaching at Holy Trinity because of the students, parents, and faculty. It is the combination that make this atmosphere out of the world! The students have talents and unique abilities in a plethora of areas. They make my school day fly by with their interesting thoughts, ideas, and kindness. The parents are amazing at HT. I look forward to parent-teacher conferences because kids are emulations of their parents. Our students are so wonderful because of our parents. Parents will remember your birthday, teach about Jesus during Character Ed, and they will treat you like family. The parents are one of the ingredients that makes this school special. Last but not least the faculty and staff make this school what it is; truly remarkable. There is so much time and effort that are put into their lesson plans so that students can comprehend what they are learning. The teachers and administration truly attend to the needs of all the children that walk these halls. Nothing is ever good enough. This school is constantly innovating ideas and tweaking social gatherings so that every student feels connected and loved. The custodial staff care for the students’ safety and provide the students with the nicest facilities any kid could ever ask for. This place is truly one of a kind.

   

  What do you want your students to take away from being in your class?
  I want my students to feel comfortable in their own skin when speaking in front of an audience. I want them to be able to speak their opinions and to accept/respect other people’s views as well. I have a sign on my door that states, “LEARN FROM THE PAST.” It is important for our children to learn about the history of America and other nations so that the same mistakes are not being repeated. History should not make you think of a timeline, but instead it should make you feel something. How do you feel about the American flag that was still standing as Francis Scott Key watched from a ship during the War of 1812, or when Harriet Tubman went back and forth on the underground railroad to save more African Americans from slavery/oppression, or when Alexander the Great had nothing left to conquer and he perished on his journey back home, or where life originated with the Separate origins theory/the out of Africa theory/ The Garden of Eden theory. History has so much content that is made to inspire our young people to make a difference.

   

  How do you stay inspired or “recharge your battery” as an educator?
  My God helps to recharge my battery. Reading the word and taking time out of my day to spend with God gets me to feeling 100 percent. God has blessed me with a wonderful wife, family, and friends. What more can I ask for or want, but he still provides. Reading about Jesus in the Gospels affirms my faith and helps me to build my fortress on a rock that cannot be shaken. I find that I am at my weakest when I am away from reading scripture. All the good work that I have done is from God and I will continue to be a vessel for him.

   
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  Mr. Slawson

  Percussion Director
  Education: The Juilliard School    
  Length of time teaching: 38 years; Percussion Clinician

   

  What is the most important life lesson you want a child to learn in your classroom?
  The disciplines required to develop skills in music impact all areas of one’s life. Social skills, patience, organization, time management and problem solving are essential to being creative and successful.

   

  What motivated you to become a teacher?
  Relentless dedication and hard work afforded me the opportunity to study with some of the most accomplished teachers in the music field. Their offerings and guidance taught me the value of passing on one’s knowledge to new generations of aspiring students.

   

  If teaching was not your first professional career, what was?
  How did you transition into teaching? Before I became a teacher, I was a performer, recording artist and studio musician. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than bringing my hands-on experience as a player and performer into the classroom.

   

  How do you inspire students to enjoy learning?
  By paying close attention to the nuanced details in the music and giving life to every note on the page.

   

  What are some of your interests and passions outside of the classroom?
  Having grown up with dogs as part of the family unit, I developed a life-long love for them, particularly the Boxer breed. I also love the game of baseball. Like many others, I grew up sharing baseball with my father. Watching baseball games never fails to relax me and evokes timeless memories in a uniquely American setting.

   
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  Mrs. Douglas

  Kindergarten
  Education: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education & Natural Science, minor in Special Education from Vanderbilt University; Masters of Science in Reading and Language Arts from Florida State University
  Length of time teaching: 10 years

   

  How you feel you can help students to “Start Here, Go Anywhere”?
  As an academic coach, I feel that my position is uniquely tied to the idea that our students can start at the Lower School and truly go anywhere, not only as they move on to the Upper School, but in life as well.  The students I work with may be buckling down and persevering through a challenging subject or concept, working hard and overcoming something that may not always come easily. As my students work through these challenges, they also learn that they can work through challenges and with hard work, achieve great things. 

   

  What motivated you to become a teacher?
  Looking back, I remember always loving school. However, second grade was particularly challenging for me.  Whether it was the combination of the students and teacher personalities or just a transitional year, when that year concluded, I had a lot of work to do to get caught back up with my peers. I remember working very hard over the summer and throughout the next year as well to get back on track and I will never forget the teachers who instilled in me that I could always do better and I was more than a single number on a test. As a fourth grader, I saw how much influence an exceptional teacher could have on a student and I decided then that teaching is all I wanted to do. 

   

  What experiences or people have the most influence on you?
  I think the single person who has had the most influence on me was my father. He always told me that I could find a mission in any school; students who needed a motivated teacher and extra love could always be found. He always said, “Don’t become ‘just’ a teacher, become the teacher that changes a student’s life.” Each time I walk into a school, his words are ringing in the back of my head to do more, work harder and make a difference, one student at a time.

   

  What do you love about teaching? And/or teaching at HT?
  The students! I was a college rower and loved the feeling of pushing myself so hard down the final stretch to edge out the other teams and win. That feeling is nothing compared to the “aha” moment when a student connects the letters on the page to the sounds they hear or the first time they feel success after struggling to understand a difficult concept. The students at Holy Trinity are simply the best and I always love running into former students and seeing how much they have accomplished. My former 6th graders are now seniors and I have seen some college acceptance letters coming in. I’m just so proud of all of them; I truly love what I do!

   

  What are your hopes for the Academic Coaching program at HT?
  There is so much potential for the growth of the academic coach position. I hope that it evolves to the point where I can seamlessly come in and out of classrooms; supporting and extending the excellent work that our teachers are already doing. Sometimes students just need a little boost to get back on track or they may need just a little extra guidance as they learn new organizational skills as they progress from one grade to the next. My goal as an academic coach is to relieve stress across the board; from students, teachers and parents by helping mitigate small issues before they become ingrained habits.

   

  What is the most important life lesson you want a child to learn in your classroom?
  I feel that everything we do in the classroom has the potential to shape our students into the happy and successful adults that they will become one day. I suppose the most important lesson that I want students to grasp after spending time with me is that our gifts and talents are ever-evolving and changing. Just because one subject is hard doesn’t mean it couldn’t also be a favorite. The challenges and successes that our students have in the Lower School will help define their own self-image as they grow up, and I want every student to leave their time with me feeling like they have the potential and tools within themselves to reach for their highest goal. 

   
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  Ms. Perschnick

  Eighth Grade English
  Education: BA – English Education, Flagler College / MA – Math Education, Western Governors University
  Length of time teaching: 15 years
  
  Holy Trinity’s tagline is: “Start Here. Go Anywhere.” How do you envision helping students to live this motto? 
  Through hard work and dedication, students can build a solid foundation at HT to springboard them into their future. As our daily world is filled with modes of communication, I want to help students with mastery of the English language—from the written word to the spoken one—so they can formulate their own ideas, find their voices, and create their own future success story.

   

  What do you look forward to the most about teaching at Holy Trinity?
  I am excited to become a part of the HT family! The overall learning environment and philosophy of educating the whole child is impressive, and the results show in the wonderful students at HT. The faculty and staff are caring and supportive, which creates a wonderful family atmosphere.

   

  What is the most important life lesson you want a child to learn in your classroom?
  I want students to know how important it is to ask questions. Whether it is for clarification or for further insight, it is vital to continue asking questions and being inquisitive. Questioning allows us to grow, learn, and progress, not only in school, but in life as well.

   

  What are some of your interests and passions outside of the classroom?
  I am an avid reader, and I love spending time with my family. I also love animals and have a 10 year old Pomeranian, who is a bundle of energy. I’ve been a dancer all of my life, and I’ve just started learning how to golf.

   

  How do you inspire students to enjoy learning?
  While academics take hard work, it is possible for work to be fun! I try to make learning enjoyable and inject humor into my teaching. Through laughter and enthusiasm, students can be more at ease, which can produce a more receptive and insightful learning atmosphere.

   

  What do you want your students to take away from being in your class?
  I want students to gain a love of books and an understanding of how lucky we are to have the ability and freedom to read. Reading can be both beneficial and fun! I also want them to see that you will always face challenges in life (in and out of the classroom). While the end result is important, the journey of tackling and overcoming the obstacles makes you stronger and allows you to learn and shape your character.
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  The Jacobs Family

  "We moved from out of state and wanted a private school with strong academics and a community feeling." - the Jacobs family
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  The Nelson Family

  "We had a good experience at our first school but were drawn to consider whether a smaller environment with more opportunities (language class, PE every day, more hands-on learning opportunities) might be a good fit for our family. A faith-based school environment was also very appealing to us. Our twins have their own unique personalities and learning styles. We love that they both have been encouraged, challenged and helped in exactly the ways they each need to help reach their own individual potential." - the Nelson family
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