Northside Staff Spotlight
September 13, 2021 - Meet Our 3rd and 4th Grade Teachers
Third Grade
Lisa Diebboll, Charlotte Leake, Bethany Dickens, and Courtney Gordon
Lisa Diebboll
Lisa enjoys reading and completing puzzles.
Lisa has been a teacher at Northside for 5 years. Her favorite thing about Northside is that we are a FAMILY!
Why does Lisa love teaching 3rd Grade? I love teaching 3rd grade because students are starting to understand the power of believing in themselves and realize that their effort leads to their growth.
Charlotte Leake
Charlotte enjoys traveling, reading, walking, and collecting pottery.
Charlotte has been a teacher at Northside for 9 years, and her favorite thing about Northside is the staff. She believes that everyone at Northside has something special to give to the students and to each other.
Why does Charlotte love teaching 3rd Grade? I love teaching 3rd grade and seeing how creative the students can be. I teach reading, science, and social studies, so I get to do a lot of hands-on activities. Their creativity always amazes me. I want to make a difference in my students' lives. I want to positively influence their way of thinking or doing things. I want to inspire them – I try to help students build self-esteem and believe in themselves and their ability to learn.
Bethany Dickens
Bethany's family does not have any pets, but she enjoys reading, baking, shopping, and playing with her kids.
Bethany's favorite thing about working at Northside is the community feel.
Why does Bethany love teaching 3rd Grade? I love working with 3rd graders because they are fun! They have great personalities, and they love to learn! 3rd graders have a spark and an energy that is unique to this grade level. I watch as they lean into new things - in learning and life. The joy of their discoveries is contagious. I get to guide and watch as they navigate through and push themselves to higher standards. It is truly special when they accomplish the goals that they set for themselves.
Courtney Gordon
Courtney's family has two dogs - Ellie and Kyzer.
Courtney enjoys running, exercising, traveling, hiking, baking, and decorating.
Courtney's favorite thing about working at Northside is her "work family".
Why does Courtney love teaching 3rd Grade? I love working with 3rd grade students because they are eager to learn and get excited about learning new things. I especially love the joy of getting to introduce them to fun new concepts like multiplication and division that they'll use for the rest of their lives!
Fourth Grade
Lori Barnes, Beverly Knowles, and Tedra Dukes
Lori Barnes
Lori enjoys cooking and reading.
Lori says that the loving and caring staff members are what makes Northside special. She loves the family environment!
Why does Lori love teaching 4th Grade Math? I love watching 4th graders persevere through math concepts that seem hard in the beginning. They get so excited when they realize they can solve hard problems.
Beverly Knowles
Beverly enjoys gardening, traveling, and reading.
Beverly's students are her favorite part about being a teacher at Northside.
Why does Beverly love teaching 4th Grade? I love teaching fourth grade students science and social studies. They all seem to love these subjects, and they have a lot to add to our lessons based on their own experiences. My students make teaching fun!
Tedra Dukes
Tedra enjoys shopping, sleeping, and spending time with her family.
Tedra loves that Northside is a family, and she feels that there is a strong welcoming feeling here.
Why does Tedra enjoy teaching 4th Grade? This is my first year teaching fourth grade. During these first weeks, I have realized they are similar to the lower grade students I have taught in so many ways; however, they can do a lot more. They're more mature, and they're eager to learn. It's fun seeing their personalities begin to bloom!