Erin Bartram has been St. Benedict School's third grade teacher since 2005. She holds a B.A. from Western Washington University and a Masters in Teaching from the University of Washington. Ms. Bartram believes that students learn best in a safe, organized, and positive environment, and fosters the creation of that environment by serving as a guide, model, and a catalyst for further learning. "Learning is most effective when teachers build a relationship of respect and caring with their students, where there is trust and encouragement," she explains, "Every child can learn and grow, although that may look and happen differently for each child." Ms. Bartram incorporates a variety of learning strategies in the classroom to strengthen math, literacy, and cognitive skills, including drama, music, games, visual arts, and technology. "I enjoy teaching because there is no other job like it and nothing quite as rewarding." She enjoys backpacking, snowshoeing, reading, and working in her yard when she is not in the classroom.