New Faculty! Introducting Elisabeth Stayer

Elisabeth is a Stage II Team Teacher teaming with Brenda Wilke. 1. Describe your life in six words. Family, friends, adventure, learning, exploring, reading.

2. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? Italy

3. If you could invite 3 guests, dead or alive, to dinner, who would they be? John Lewis, Malala Yousafzai, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

4. What are some things you'd like to share about yourself, your family and birthplace? I'm a Michigander through and through. My husband, Doug, and I have two children, Matilda (Stage III.2) and Elliot (Stage II.1), and an Australian Shepard called Penny. I first joined the Roeper community at the age of 3 when I was in Rick & Faith's class in the Hill House.  The allure of the yellow school bus took me to the local public school district for 1st-5th grade but I returned to Roeper for middle and high school. After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan, I was a Stage III teacher for four years; and with a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science, I worked as the Lower School librarian for two. After 10 additional years of teaching as a school librarian, I am happy to be back at Roeper as a Stage II team teacher.

5. What are your hobbies and interests outside of working at Roeper? My hobbies include reading and recommending children's literature, traveling, baking, trying new restaurants, and spending time with my family. Together we enjoy the outdoors while hiking and exploring, biking, visiting parks, swimming and going to the beach, as well as picking fresh fruit at Michigan orchards. On the weekends, we love to make homemade pizzas, play games, and watch movies. We look forward to being able to visit museums, attend local events, and travel outside of Michigan again!

6. What is a topic or skill that you love to teach and why?  (For Teachers) I love to teach children skills that will equip them as lifelong learners: the ability to recognize their passions, curiosities, and wonderings; the skills to further explore these; and resiliency to persevere through challenges. I also love to teach children how to read and any opportunity to connect children with great books! 

7. What is it that appealed to you about Roeper when you took the job? As an alum, parent, and former Roeper teacher--returning to Roeper feels like coming home!