English Language Arts Department
6th Grade- Elizabeth Footit
8th Grade- Joy Leaning
leaninge@springfieldpublicschools.com
Joy Leaning is ecstatic to come to Renaissance as the 8th Grade ELA teacher! A Massachusetts native, she graduated from UMASS Amherst with a BA in Middle Eastern Studies. She has also proudly served as a Soldier in the Massachusetts Army National Guard since 2013. Ms. Leaning spends much (all) of her time being overly caffeinated and loves to garden, play with her son, and adopt way too many stray pets. She swears and lives by this quote, “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” -Maya Angelou. 10th grade- Sarah Banning
Bannings@springfieldpublicschools.com
Sarah Banning is looking forward to her second year at Renaissance. She grew up in Alabama and attended the University of Alabamam where she received a BA in English. She moved to Massachusetts to pursue her Master of Arts in Teaching at Mount Holyoke College. She currently has a 9th grade crew. She enjoys reading, traveling, and gardening. 12th Grade- Lise Krieger
Kriegerl@springfieldpublicschools.com
Lise grew up in Weston, Connecticut, playing in the woods, swimming in rivers, and riding her bike. Many years and many colleges later (Cornell University; the University of California, San Diego; Fairfield University; and Fielding Graduate University) her own love of learning inspired her to become a teacher.
After teaching English for 19 years at Norwalk High School in CT, Lise was fortunate to start working at the Renaissance School in the summer of 2007. She loves Renaissance and its students, believes in its mission, and is committed to be part of making it continue to be a shining star in Springfield. Lise’s passions include almost anything that requires being outdoors and exploring new places. She loves to bike and ride her horses and spends a lot of time riding about discovering new places. Her favorite indoor hobbies are reading and writing. Lise shares her home with her partner, Jo, their dogs, cats and horses. |
7th grade- Emily Lepine
lepinee@springfieldpublicschools.com
9th Grade- Erika Schraft
Erika Schraft is looking forward to her first year at Renaissance. She is entering her 9th year teaching . She has taught middle school in the Springfield district the past four years and is excited about this adventure going back to teaching high school. She received her undergrad in English Secondary Education from Westfield State. She received Masters in English and Special Education from WNE. She currently has a 9th grade crew and is looking forward to growing with them throughout the exciting high school experience. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, creating art, and watching basketball and hockey.
“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” -Ernest Hemingway 11th Grade- Nadia Friedler
friedlern@springfieldpublicschools.com
Librarian- Emily Niemann |
