About Me

Hello! My name is Adrienne Valentino, and I am the new 3rd grade teacher at St. Michael School. I’m thrilled to be part of such a warm and welcoming community and can’t wait to get started!

I just moved to Indiana from Illinois in May, so all of my history to this point has been in Illinois. I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University. My background is now equally split between primary and intermediate grades, all of which has been in a Catholic school. My first big job was at St. Joseph School in Homewood, teaching 3rd Grade, where I taught for 5 years. I took a year between teaching jobs exploring how to be a work-from-home mom, but I felt incomplete. I took my next position teaching 1st Grade at St. Joseph in Summit, Illinois, and the school closed at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year. I’m so excited to be teaching 3rd grade again, which was the first grade of my career, and where I did all my student teaching and the majority of my clinicals. In many ways, coming to St. Michael School is like coming home.

Not only am I super passionate about being a teacher and educating your precious children, but to do so in a Catholic school is so special to me. Being born and raised Catholic ... being able to teach our faith daily and pass on these values is indeed a gift. It is truly inspiring to see your children grow in education and in faith each year.

I'm a firm believer of movement in the classroom. Children do not do their best learning confined to desks every hour of the day. Therefore, I am committed to the fluid movement that constructs our day. I’m still figuring out what that looks like in my new classroom, but I promise your child will not be stuck in one place all day. It is my goal to bring humor and energy into your child's school day. I also teach the children that we are a family unit. I see more of them than I do my family at home, and the same goes for your child. We are siblings in the eyes of God, our Father, and it is important they learn to "live with" their classmates in harmony and mutual respect.

Speaking about family, I have 2 daughters: Emma is in 2nd grade this year, and Claire will be 3 soon and just began PreSchool. Mr. Valentino is a CISCO teacher at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois. We have a dog named Bella at home who is currently recovering from surgery. We love animals!

I'd be remiss if I didn't address the continued intrusion of COVID-19 into every aspect of our lives. I commit to keeping your children as safe as possible while in my care. Miss Kennedy is doing a stellar job of prioritizing the safety of the students and all faculty/staff. I ask that you make yourself very familiar with all of our updated policies and procedures, and follow all the rules and guidelines to help keep our children and school community safe and healthy. Please also allow for grace, as our school community continues to adapt to updated CDC and Diocesan guidelines.

I'm an open book, and enjoy sharing stories with my class to help enrich lessons. I love seeing parents daily, and am happy to communicate as often as necessary. My first point of contact is either email, or via your child's planner, which I will have eyes on every day. I’m learning how to use the FACTS system, and will implement that into my communications as well. Please don't hesitate to send me a note! Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your child's life, and thanks for being part of mine! We’re going to have a great year!

With Love,

Mrs. Adrienne Valentino :)