McKenzie Volesky to Join Growing Kindergarten Team at Sioux Falls Lutheran School
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is pleased to share that Miss McKenzie Volesky will join the growing kindergarten team at Sioux Falls Lutheran School as we open a second section of kindergarten during the 2021-22 school year.
Originally from Webster, South Dakota, Miss Volesky is a 2021 graduate of Augustana University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education, minors in English as a new language and reading, and endorsements in kindergarten and English as a new language. Her classroom teaching experience includes student teaching at Hayward Elementary and Harvey Dunn Elementary, substitute teaching in the Sioux Falls School District, ELL classroom experience at Jane Addams Elementary, and practicums throughout the Sioux Falls area. She also served as the lead virtual first grade teacher in Summit during the summer of 2020.
During her time at Augustana, Miss Volesky served as co-president of the Augustana University Education Association, was an active member of the National Education Association, attended a Trauma Sensitive Education Conference hosted by Pamela Black, and was named to the Dean’s list all four years of her college career.
Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Miss Volesky and her passion for teaching our youngest K-12 learners.
Tell me a bit about yourself and your family.
I grew up in Webster, SD, and enjoy outdoor activities. My favorite outdoor activity is enjoying time with my family at our lake cabin. My parents, Rick and Jennifer, have been an amazing support for me growing up. I have a twin sister, Mariah, and an older sister, Alexa, who I love spending time with. I met my fiance, Riley, at Augustana University. We are getting married in June, and I am thrilled to begin my adventure at Sioux Falls Lutheran School with him supporting me along the way.
How did you decide to pursue a career in elementary education?
When I decided that Augustana was where I wanted to spend my college experience, I was unsure of what career I wanted to pursue. I ended up taking a general education class where I had a practicum at an after school program where I spent time with kindergarten aged students. I absolutely fell in love with teaching, and I knew I had found my path in life. I sincerely enjoy working with students and building relationships with them where they know they can be in an environment where a sense of belonging and deep learning will occur. Through this field experience at Augustana, I was able to discover my passion for teaching.
Tell me a bit about your teaching style.
Through so much classroom experience, I have developed a very calm, caring, yet driven teaching style. I strive to show students everyday that we are on the same team and we are going to work together to meaningfully learn. I am a big believer in establishing a student-centered environment. The students need to know that they belong in my classroom and that I will work hard to meet all of their needs. I enjoy interacting with students to learn about their interests and enjoyments, and then incorporating these throughout the day and into lessons to keep students engaged. I want students to take control of their learning and identify the learning style that best suits them. I strive to offer various learning domains to allow students to strengthen their learning and engagement by experimenting with different styles of learning.
What do you enjoy most about working with the youngest of elementary students?
Working with kindergarteners allows me to support them in becoming well-rounded individuals who begin to discover their unique personalities in a school setting. In kindergarten, I am able to establish and light a love for learning within these students right away. Teaching and learning with the students as they begin to establish essential foundational skills is beyond rewarding. Witnessing these students blossom as these skills are mastered is one of my favorite aspects of kindergarten. The social-emotional aspect of school is also one of the main reasons why kindergarten is my passion. Supporting students and teaching students right away in kindergarten to to manage emotions, set positive goals, show empathy, and maintain positive relationships allows them to be set up for success as they continue through school. Everyday, I look forward to the excitement and energy of a kindergarten student.
What excites you most about integrating your faith with your passion for education at SFLS?
The thought of intertwining my faith and my career everyday at Sioux Falls Lutheran is beyond wholesome for me. It warms my heart to know that I will be teaching these students about the love Jesus has for all of us.
Favorite Bible verse:
“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” –Isaiah 54:10
About Sioux Falls Lutheran School
At Sioux Falls Lutheran School, our mission is to develop capable, Christian servant-leaders in a complex world who are World Ready and Faith Secure. We are passionate about giving our students the tools they need to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to accomplish this goal by maintaining high academic standards, employing excellent teachers, and upholding a Christian worldview drawn from Scripture. Ultimately, we are committed to partnering with parents and the church to raise lifelong learners who use their gifts and the fruits of the Spirit, in faith, to touch a troubled world with God’s grace.