4th Grade Teaching Team

Stephanie Brickman

4th Grade Teacher

• This is my 8th year teaching, and I have taught 4th grade from the start. I love teaching because I loved my own elementary school teachers and wanted to be just like them when I grew up! Every day, I strive for my students to feel proud of their hard work, continue to build their love of learning, and enjoy coming to school. I love seeing my students light up with enthusiasm and wonder as they learn so much throughout the year with me!
• My favorite thing about 4th grade is bringing the class together with our “Whole-Class Puzzle Project.” 4th graders are building their independence and individuality. I enjoy watching them express this on their own puzzle pieces and then bringing them all together into one collaborative project of creativity and diversity. This sets us up to learn and grow together for an amazing year.
• I love being around my family and friends. Growing up in a large family, we have always been busy cooking, eating, talking, taking trips together (skiing, camping, swimming, or Costco shopping) etc. Although I love curling up alone with a good book sometimes, being with the people I love and sharing happy occasions like weddings and picnics are tons of fun! I feel grateful to play at the park with my baby cousin, enjoy an old movie with my grandpa, or walk around farmers’ markets with the people I love.
• I am looking forward to the amazing resources at Mariposa. Our classrooms, the wild zone, and this wonderful staff coming together is the perfect combination for a successful year of fun and learning! Even though I’ve moved classrooms a few times before (and I’m becoming an expert on that), this classroom feels like the perfect fit for me and I’m excited to have my students join me here!

Kelly Earlywine

4th Grade Teacher

• I began teaching in 2005 here in San Carlos - this is the start of my 17th year with the district. I have been teaching 4th grade for 15 years, wow! I taught at Brittan Acres for 12 years where I primarily taught 4th grade (with one year teaching 3rd/4th combination and one year teaching 3rd). I love having the opportunity to be collaborative as a teacher, and was lucky enough to convince Jen Heinschel to jump on board to 4th grade. She and I have been teaching partners for the last eight years. We get the opportunity to share students and meet our students’ needs with a rich and team-focused learning environment. Teaching brings me the most joy when I see kids realize their potential is limitless - that’s when magic truly happens!
• Fourth grade has been my absolute favorite grade level to teach. Kids make so many strides academically in 4th grade, their creativity is astounding, and the curriculum is challenging but also a lot of fun to teach!
• My husband and I are peninsula natives! Together we have two kids - my son is nine and my daughter is six. We love having time together going for walks with our dog, playing at the park, riding bikes, and swimming. I love to be outdoors enjoying some beautiful scenery and the warm sunshine. When I’m not in mom and teacher mode, I try to get some exercise in, read a book that has been on my long overdue list, or catch up on a Netflix series.
• The start of a new school year brings a lot of excitement and wonderful, fresh experiences. 

Jennifer Heinschel 

4th Grade Teacher

• This is the start of my 19th year of teaching - I started teaching in the San Carlos School District and I’ve never left! I taught 3rd grade at Brittan Acres for about 10 years (with a 2/3 and 3/4 combination class thrown in there) and then transitioned to 4th grade where I was able to partner with Kelly Earlywine. We’ve taught 4th grade collaboratively for the last eight years and we love working together to meet the needs of our students. It’s the absolute best when you see the ‘lightbulb’ go on when you’re teaching and when you see students start to nurture different passions within their own lives.
• Fourth grade was one of my favorite years as a student in school and it’s by far my most favorite grade to teach! Students are really starting to develop their independent thinking and take their ideas to a higher level. There’s a wide variety of interests and skills - and 4th graders are just plain fun to talk with! I majored in journalism in college and love to teach writing and share my love of all things grammar to my students (they don’t always share my enthusiasm!). Math is also pretty awesome to teach - I wish I had learned math the way we teach it now.
• My family is everything to me - my husband and I have two kids. My daughter is 12 and my son is 10. While I can’t believe that they’re in 5th and 7th grades, they make me proud every day. We have a dog (a result of me chaperoning my daughter’s Girl Scout troop to Pets in Need last year) and a cat (who doesn’t really like the dog), and we love to spend time in our backyard barbecuing by the creek. I love to read, craft, and bake.
• Ever since I started school, I’ve always loved the beginning of each year. School supply shopping was a favorite, with new pencils, a binder, folders, and erasers being just about the best thing ever. There’s something special about a fresh, new start every year - for both teachers and students!

Yasmeen Hijazi

4th Grade Teacher

• This is my second year teaching. I have worked with a wide range of ages from 2 year olds receiving Early Intervention and 18 year olds earning their diploma. However, I must say 4th grade seems to be the perfect grade.
• I look forward to meeting all the new students and supporting them on their journey to being confident learners.
• When I am not working or spending time with my family, I can usually be found on a hiking trail somewhere in the Bay Area.  More often than not, my amazing dog is right by my side ready for an adventure.

• I began teaching in 1998 in Los Altos then in Palo Alto at an NPS where I worked with special needs students (aged 5-16) and their families for many years. This is my fourth year teaching in the SCSD and I have loved working with my students and my fourth grade team. I am also a SCSD parent and have great gratitude for all of our educators.
• My favorite thing about 4th grade is making authentic connections with my students and being inspired by their enthusiasm to learn and grow.  
• We have 2 daughters, Gabi-15(SEQ) and Elisa(CMS)-11 who keep us on our toes. They are both fun to be around and have a good sense of humor. Gabi is the Varsity goalkeeper for her high school team and soccer club and loves music. Elisa likes basketball and any hiking trail in the bay area. My husband John was born and raised in San Carlos and is a critical care transport pilot in CA. Our entire family loves sports and the outdoors: we love to hike, camp, frequent the beach, play soccer, bocce, basketball, kickball, cornhole, or whatever we’re in the mood for. I also love to read, listen to music and visit the SC farmer’s market. Each summer we hike, bike, and camp in the Yosemite Valley together and enjoy rafting and floating in the Merced River.
• I look forward to the new school year mostly because I know how much growth will be happening. I’m amazed at what my students accomplish throughout the school year and am inspired by them.  

Joel Porter

4th Grade Teacher

• This is my fifth year teaching--my first year I taught 5th grade in San Jose, and for the last four years I taught 4th grade in San Carlos. As a student teacher, I taught kindergarten and 3rd grade, and as a teacher’s assistant I worked with 1st graders, so I’ve worked with almost every grade! For me, teaching is the perfect chance to do something I love while making a difference in the world.
• The Tiger Rising is one of my favorite books.  I almost cried a few times while reading to my class, because it tells such a beautiful and moving story.  I’m very excited to share it with my class this year with a focus on understanding different characters’ perspectives.
• I love playing board games and reading fantasy and science fiction novels.  I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and I even play Quidditch sometimes.  Dobby, my dog, is also named after the house elf from Harry Potter.
• Every year, my students amaze me with their hidden talents, unique perspectives, or spontaneous humor.  I’m excited to get to know the students in Room V!