Kristen Coley, Hoover Middle School Teacher

Special Education Teacher Kristen Coley enriches our school culture and the lives of her students in so many meaningful ways. She leads a group of 12 students in grades 6 through 8 as well as a team of teacher aides in a self-contained class with a focus on students' individual needs and talents, and with very high expectations. Kristen believes strongly that every student can be successful, and invests a great deal of time developing unique experiences for her students to apply their knowledge in the real world. The students have taken Metro Bus trips, gone to Cradle Beach on an overnight camping trip, visited sites such as Greg's U-Pick Apple Farm, movie theaters, Applebee's and Gramma Mora's. Kristen's students keep the staff at Hoover Middle well fed via their work in their "147 Cafe" with an annual coffee cake sale, a new and delicious soup and chili fundraiser, a Thanksgiving luncheon and a spaghetti lunch in the spring. A product of KenTon Schools, Kristen attended Roosevelt Elementary, Kenmore Middle School and graduated from Kenmore West in 2003. She completed her student teaching at Jefferson and Hamilton elementary schools and is in her 12th year of teaching. A former cheerleading coach at Kenmore West for 5 years, Kristen now serves as the choreographer for the Hoover Middle musicals. Congratulations, Kristen.