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For Mrs. Susan Kennelly, teaching third graders is a significant responsibility. Now in her fifth year teaching third grade at St. Serra, she recognizes what makes this grade level such an important year. “The thing I enjoy most about teaching is seeing [the] children grow in knowledge and maturity throughout the year,” she shares. “[In] third grade [we are] helping children learn responsibilities and getting them to take an active role in their education.”

Mrs. Kennelly has a Bachelor's Degree in Child Development and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, both from Florida State University. She initially spent five years in Atlanta teaching second grade. When she and her husband, Tim, got married, they moved back to Florida where Mrs. Kennelly taught Kindergarten for nine years. “Having the experience of different grade levels has helped me become a better teacher,” says Mrs. Kennelly. “I can pull from prior knowledge and understand the various stages that children have to go through before and during third grade.”

Mr. and Mrs. Kennelly have been married for 33 years. They have four children; three boys and one girl. Their two oldest sons live and work in Florida, and their youngest son and daughter are both attending Saddleback College. They also have a yellow Labrador retriever named “Chubbs.” During her free time, Mrs. Kennelly enjoys traveling, going to the beach, reading and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Currently, Mrs. Kennelly's third graders are keeping busy with several classroom assignments, including a Lenten almsgiving project in which they read the book The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, and adopted a silverback gorilla. Mrs. Kennelly tells us, “it is important for the children to have as many real world experiences as possible, to help their understanding of what they are learning. I am truly blessed to teach these children every day!”