Catherine Grider
Junior Kindergarten Teacher
Office | 253.620.8328
cgrider@charleswright.org
At Charles Wright Academy Since 2001
Education:
City University, MEd
Pacific Lutheran University, BA
Catherine Grider teaches junior kindergarten and finds that Charles Wright’s junior kindergarten through 12th grade campus creates unique opportunities for her class to do activities with other students- not only in the Lower School, but also in the Middle and Upper Schools.
On Friday afternoons, her students meet with their fifth grade buddies. Their annual field trip to the pumpkin patch, followed by pumpkin carving back on campus, are guided by these mentors. Junior kindergarten students use their creativity to draw monsters of all shapes and sizes, then eighth grade art students bring them to life in the pottery studio- presenting them in a much anticipated event. The Upper School drama class performs dramatic readings for the class. Grider’s students develop friends and mentors all across campus and are immediately part of the Charles Wright community.
Grider joined the Charles Wright faculty after teaching kindergarten through second grade for 10 years at Tillicum Elementary in Lakewood. She is the 2014 recipient of the Parent Association’s Inspirational Faculty Award.
“I love the moment when one of our young students realizes that by saying sounds together they can create a word. By creating words, they can read.” she says. Outside of school, Grider enjoys baking, boating, skiing and spending time with her family.