Second Grade

Ms. Dinkes, 2nd grade teacher

Michelle Dinkes teaches the wonderful and inquisitive second graders. Last year, she taught math and science at Brent. Ms. Dinkes has a B.A. in American studies and elementary education from Brandeis University and a master’s in education policy from Stanford University. Before coming to Brent, Ms. Dinkes worked for a nonprofit organization that provided professional development and technical assistance to state boards of education across the country. She loves to cook and collects autographed cookbooks, including one from Julie Child. Ms. Dinkes feels lucky to be working in the Brent community and is amazed every day by the energy of the students, parents and her fellow teachers!

grades: pk3 | pk4 | k | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
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Ms. Pressman

Meredith Pressman graduated from Skidmore College with a major in psychology and a minor in early childhood education, then received a master’s degree from Bank Street College of Education, with a dual certification in teaching literacy and elementary education. She comes to us from New York City, where she taught in both public and private schools and also ran a private practice as a literacy specialist. Before she entered the classroom, she worked as an elementary school coordinator for Community Connections in Montpelier, Vt., where she developed and implemented after-school and summer programming, including the development of a summer gardening program at a local organic farm. “The program was open to all community members but was specifically aimed to support those children receiving free or reduced-fee lunch during the school year,” she says. “The children would harvest vegetables from the field, prepare their snack and lunch in our outdoor kitchen, and spend the afternoon playing ecological games in the field or learning from a guest specialist.” She also used an active approach when she taught first and second grade at a New York school that was founded by parents in the East Village. “It is a school that honors collaboration, community spirit, and an integrated hands-on approach to teaching and learning,” she says. “My role as a teacher is to create a classroom environment that promotes experiential learning and fosters the development of independent thinkers.” Ms. Pressman enjoys spending time outdoors snowboarding in the winter and hiking in warmer weather. She also loves to grow vegetables and cook food from the garden, and she just moved from New York City to Washington, D.C.

grades: pk3 | pk4 | k | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
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