Karen Hoppe
Third Grade

John and I moved to Appleton in 1996.  Although we are not natives of the Fox Valley, we truly enjoy living here.  We feel very lucky to be a part of such an exciting and growing community.

John and I have two daughters.  Madison, our older daughter, is full of energy and loves to play outside.  Kristen, our younger daughter, also loves to play outside.  Both girls are very good at causing mischief around the house.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher.  Whenever we played school as children, I was always the teacher.  After high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.  I received both a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education degree and a Masters of Science in Education with an Emphasis in Special Education degree from UW Oshkosh.  It is important to me to be a life-long learner.  I continue to my quest for knowledge by regularly attending classes at UW Oshkosh.

My first five years of teaching were focused on students with emotional disabilities in kindergarten through fifth grade.  I then took a few years off from teaching.  I worked for an administration and consulting firm here in Appleton that specialized in the administration of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), 401(k) plans, and profit sharing plans.  The firm that I worked for provided me the opportunity to volunteer within the elementary schools during the workday.  These opportunities to get involved with children in the schools made me realize how much I missed teaching.

In August 2001, I accepted a part-time position with Classical School.  Throughout the school year, I was amazed at the wonderful and rich curriculum that Classical School provides to the students.  The students at Classical School have continued to amaze me with their quest for knowledge and their commitment to their education.  I have also recognized the awesome support of the parents.  It is great to see how involved the parents are with the children’s education.  I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful school and I am looking forward to the coming year as one of the two third grade teachers.