P.E.
I'm Mr. Brian Allen and I am extremely proud to have been part of the Wallin community for several years now. I grew up in central Iowa, but I've called Nevada home for over two decades! I hold Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degrees from UNLV, along with a coaching certification from the University of San Diego. I’ve loved getting to know so many wonderful families and really appreciate the special culture that makes Wallin Elementary such a unique place.
As most of you know, good nutrition, exercise, and a positive mindset are keys to living a happy, healthy, and active life. This idea shapes Wallin’s P.E. program. We aim to create a safe and supportive environment where students can learn new ways to move, calm their minds, show teamwork and sportsmanship, and learn other healthy habits.
Students will develop these skills through a mix of traditional activities (like stretching, calisthenics, dancing, and basketball) and some fun, non-traditional ones (like building hula huts, cone flipping, and riding scooters). While we value and recognize athleticism and competition, P.E. will be a time for kids of all abilities and fitness levels to practice their skills and move their bodies. With this in mind, we will strive to make sure that the students are developing self-confidence, greater sportsmanship, a cooperative mindset, and joyfully participating during their P.E. time each week!
Wishing you health & happiness,
Mr. Allen
As most of you know, good nutrition, exercise, and a positive mindset are keys to living a happy, healthy, and active life. This idea shapes Wallin’s P.E. program. We aim to create a safe and supportive environment where students can learn new ways to move, calm their minds, show teamwork and sportsmanship, and learn other healthy habits.
Students will develop these skills through a mix of traditional activities (like stretching, calisthenics, dancing, and basketball) and some fun, non-traditional ones (like building hula huts, cone flipping, and riding scooters). While we value and recognize athleticism and competition, P.E. will be a time for kids of all abilities and fitness levels to practice their skills and move their bodies. With this in mind, we will strive to make sure that the students are developing self-confidence, greater sportsmanship, a cooperative mindset, and joyfully participating during their P.E. time each week!
Wishing you health & happiness,
Mr. Allen
MUSIC
My name is Mr. Thom Borden and I am excited to be joining the Wallin team this year. Before moving to Henderson, I taught in Chicago. I have an MA in curriculum design and testing and a BA in music education and I was a voice and piano major. I have completed my training in both the Kodaly methodology and Orff-Schulwerk pedagogy with additional music and movement training in Paris. As a music education professional, I have been honored to speak and share with music students and educators in Asia, Australia, Europe and across the United States and have published materials in both the Spotlight on Music and Music Studio music education curriculum programs.
In our music room, we work to release creativity that extends beyond the music classroom. The Orff-Schulwerk approach builds musicianship in all learners through the integration of music, movement, speech and drama. Children begin with what they do instinctively - play! Imitation, experimentation, and personal expression occur naturally as students become confident, life-long musicians and creative problem solvers. The approach, along with the Kodaly sequence, is a model for optimal learning in 21st century classrooms.
I look forward to working with your children - continuing the musical education they have started at Wallin Elementary. More importantly, I look forward to building your child’s love music.
Musically Yours,
Thom Borden
My name is Mr. Thom Borden and I am excited to be joining the Wallin team this year. Before moving to Henderson, I taught in Chicago. I have an MA in curriculum design and testing and a BA in music education and I was a voice and piano major. I have completed my training in both the Kodaly methodology and Orff-Schulwerk pedagogy with additional music and movement training in Paris. As a music education professional, I have been honored to speak and share with music students and educators in Asia, Australia, Europe and across the United States and have published materials in both the Spotlight on Music and Music Studio music education curriculum programs.
In our music room, we work to release creativity that extends beyond the music classroom. The Orff-Schulwerk approach builds musicianship in all learners through the integration of music, movement, speech and drama. Children begin with what they do instinctively - play! Imitation, experimentation, and personal expression occur naturally as students become confident, life-long musicians and creative problem solvers. The approach, along with the Kodaly sequence, is a model for optimal learning in 21st century classrooms.
I look forward to working with your children - continuing the musical education they have started at Wallin Elementary. More importantly, I look forward to building your child’s love music.
Musically Yours,
Thom Borden
Art
l am Ms. Sarah Izatt and I am super excited to be the new Shirley & Bill Wallin Elementary School
art specialist teacher! In case you are wondering, my last name is pronounced, eye-zat. I tell my
students quite often, "it is pronounced I sat with a Z, like, I zat on you!" It is a good icebreaker for the
starting conversation in my classroom and we all have a little chuckle or smile about how silly but
creative about how to say my last name I can be, which is what my class is all about: confident
creativity.
About Me
I was born and raised in New Jersey, but attended college in New Hampshire. I received a BA in
2009 from Chester College of New England with a concentration in Photography, Graphic Design, and
Media Arts. Shortly after, I received my MAT in 2012 from the University of New Hampshire with a
concentration and teaching certification in K-12 Art Education. I moved to the sunny and beautiful Las
Vegas area 7 years ago, from the cold tundra of northern Minnesota, when I was hired as an Art teacher
for CCSD at Don E. Hayden Elementary School.
This is my 8th year of teaching and is now my 2nd school to have the privilege of teaching at. I
love my job and I would not trade it for anything in the world! I am an artist and an art teacher. My
passion for art started in darkroom photography and spread to drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics,
and printmaking.
What to Expect in Art Class
I choose to teach elementary students because they are just as happy and excited about creating
art as I am! My lesson ideas for teaching the Nevada Art Content Standards are created from my own
trial and errors in art processes until getting it just right. I take the frustration and fear of failure out
of the art equation for students with prepared examples and step-by-step instructions to follow. Not all
art I teach is a step-by-step process. I start the year with the step-by-step instruction until the students
are ready for a more creative thinking process on their own. I love watching students take off while
confident in their work they are creating for those projects in the second half of the school year!
In my class, students will learn to use a large variety of art mediums in projects throughout the
school year to teach our students as much as I can about different ways to create before they move on.
This allows students to start their middle school journey with a strong foundation of creative processes
to continue their Art education. I can't wait to meet all of my students and have fun making artwork
with confident and creative artists of all ages
- Ms. Sarah Izatt
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
-Scott Adams
Library
I am Mrs. Jennifer Hill and I am looking forward to being the new Wallin ES Librarian. I am a Las Vegas native who graduated from Chaparral HS. I went on to study at UNLV, where I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Art. I taught primary grades, learning that my true passion was sharing my love for literacy and good literature with my students. I continued my education at UNLV, receiving a Master's Degree in Literacy, and later, my School Library Certification. I have been an Elementary School Librarian for the past 13 years.
During your student's time in the library, we will focus on three areas: library skills, research, and literature appreciation. By learning library skills, such as using the catalog, students will develop the ability to find the books and resources they are searching for. We will work on research projects, learning to gather and evaluate information and sharing what we learned in creative ways. We will participate in programs, such as the Nevada Young Reader Awards, where we will read and critique literature. Students will be read to, participate in lessons, and be given time to find books they are excited to check out.
My core belief as a librarian is that students become good readers by reading! Students will have opportunities to participate in the AppleCore program, Accelerated Reader, Nevada Reading Week, and Battle of the Books to motivate them to read both in and out of school and to foster a love for stories by participating in the Bristlecone Storytelling Festival.
I am excited to share the wonders of reading and learning with the students of Wallin ES.
l am Ms. Sarah Izatt and I am super excited to be the new Shirley & Bill Wallin Elementary School
art specialist teacher! In case you are wondering, my last name is pronounced, eye-zat. I tell my
students quite often, "it is pronounced I sat with a Z, like, I zat on you!" It is a good icebreaker for the
starting conversation in my classroom and we all have a little chuckle or smile about how silly but
creative about how to say my last name I can be, which is what my class is all about: confident
creativity.
About Me
I was born and raised in New Jersey, but attended college in New Hampshire. I received a BA in
2009 from Chester College of New England with a concentration in Photography, Graphic Design, and
Media Arts. Shortly after, I received my MAT in 2012 from the University of New Hampshire with a
concentration and teaching certification in K-12 Art Education. I moved to the sunny and beautiful Las
Vegas area 7 years ago, from the cold tundra of northern Minnesota, when I was hired as an Art teacher
for CCSD at Don E. Hayden Elementary School.
This is my 8th year of teaching and is now my 2nd school to have the privilege of teaching at. I
love my job and I would not trade it for anything in the world! I am an artist and an art teacher. My
passion for art started in darkroom photography and spread to drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics,
and printmaking.
What to Expect in Art Class
I choose to teach elementary students because they are just as happy and excited about creating
art as I am! My lesson ideas for teaching the Nevada Art Content Standards are created from my own
trial and errors in art processes until getting it just right. I take the frustration and fear of failure out
of the art equation for students with prepared examples and step-by-step instructions to follow. Not all
art I teach is a step-by-step process. I start the year with the step-by-step instruction until the students
are ready for a more creative thinking process on their own. I love watching students take off while
confident in their work they are creating for those projects in the second half of the school year!
In my class, students will learn to use a large variety of art mediums in projects throughout the
school year to teach our students as much as I can about different ways to create before they move on.
This allows students to start their middle school journey with a strong foundation of creative processes
to continue their Art education. I can't wait to meet all of my students and have fun making artwork
with confident and creative artists of all ages
- Ms. Sarah Izatt
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
-Scott Adams
Library
I am Mrs. Jennifer Hill and I am looking forward to being the new Wallin ES Librarian. I am a Las Vegas native who graduated from Chaparral HS. I went on to study at UNLV, where I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Art. I taught primary grades, learning that my true passion was sharing my love for literacy and good literature with my students. I continued my education at UNLV, receiving a Master's Degree in Literacy, and later, my School Library Certification. I have been an Elementary School Librarian for the past 13 years.
During your student's time in the library, we will focus on three areas: library skills, research, and literature appreciation. By learning library skills, such as using the catalog, students will develop the ability to find the books and resources they are searching for. We will work on research projects, learning to gather and evaluate information and sharing what we learned in creative ways. We will participate in programs, such as the Nevada Young Reader Awards, where we will read and critique literature. Students will be read to, participate in lessons, and be given time to find books they are excited to check out.
My core belief as a librarian is that students become good readers by reading! Students will have opportunities to participate in the AppleCore program, Accelerated Reader, Nevada Reading Week, and Battle of the Books to motivate them to read both in and out of school and to foster a love for stories by participating in the Bristlecone Storytelling Festival.
I am excited to share the wonders of reading and learning with the students of Wallin ES.