Monica Vogel: 1st/2nd Grade

Monica joined our teaching staff in fall 2009. Prior to Southwest Charter School, Monica taught a second and third grade blend at Willamette Primary in West Linn. She received her Master of Arts in Teaching at Lewis & Clark College and received a degree in Biology from the University of Portland. Before getting into teaching, she explored other passions. She spent two summers in Alaska, interning for the National Park with their brown bear research team and working as a sea kayak guide. She also had an AmeriCorps position at a local non-profit, Willamette Riverkeeper. Then she landed a "real" job with the Department of Environmental Quality, organizing volunteer groups that collect water quality data. Monica soon realized that though she loved the sciences and environmental stewardship, she was not cut out to work in an office all day. She started to think about those “fun” jobs she had working with kids as a swim instructor, basketball coach, pre-school teacher, and tutor. The light went on and here she is! In addition to teaching, Monica enjoys gardening, biking, baking, kayaking, and visiting with friends.