Mrs. Jean Granahan

School: Bertha Barber Elementary
Years Teaching: 21

Bio: Mrs. Granahan always knew that she wanted to work with children and help them learn and be successful. Her mother was a teacher and taught sixth-grade, which gave her the strength to stick with it. Mrs. Granahan went to Iowa State where she received her Bachelor's in Elementary Education. She then attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she received her Master's in Reading. After graduating Mrs. Granahan taught at Birchcrest Elementary for nine years teaching grades second, fifth and sixth during that time. She then switched schools and came to teach at Bertha Barber Elementary where she has been for the past twelve years.

Family: Mrs. Granahan is married to Darrell and has been for 17 years. They have one son named Mitchell, 14 who is in eighth-grade at Mission Middle School and one daughter named Lydia, 12 who is in sixth-grade at Fairview Elementary.

Hobbies: Mrs. Granahan likes to read when she is not teaching. She also likes to sing in the choir at her church, teaches Sunday school and loves to watch the kids play soccer and basketball.

In Their Own Words: "Find a good book and read, read, read!" - Mrs. Jean Granahan

Worthy Recognition: "Jean Granahan is a reading specialist at Bertha Barber Elementary School where she has been in this position for 12 years. She loves to read and shows this passion as she works with all students in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade at Bertha Barber. Her energy and dedication for teaching is demonstrated as she encourages students to improve their reading skills.

Mrs. Granahan is an inspiration to her colleagues as well as her students. She continually strives to find new reading strategies to improve the reading skills of her students. A wonderful example of Mrs. Granahan's dedication to children was noted upon entering a classroom where she was conducting a guided reading lesson. You could see Mrs. Granahan's long legs emerging from underneath a table with a student reading a book. When she was asked later why her guided reading lesson was taking place under the table she stated, "This was the only place that my student felt comfortable reading to me." She is the type of teacher who will do "whatever it takes" to help a child be successful! She is the kind of teacher who diligently plans for creative and exciting instruction while encouraging students to learn and to believe in themselves. She is teaching students to respect everyone and to explore the world of ideas. When you think of Mrs. Granahan, you will see her wonderful smile, hear her gentle and kind voice, and easily recall the sound of her laughter. She is a teacher who enriches the students, parents and staffs' lives in a beautiful way." - Principal Susan Fjelstad

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