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I was raised on several air force bases (my father was a U.S. Air Force officer) across the south, as well as Japan and the Philippine Islands. I am a graduate of the University of Denver and have taught kindergarten through third grade, Louisiana, Texas, New York, Colorado, where I am from. I have two daughters and one grand-daughter. I love to garden, and cross country ski. I presently live in Cambridge, New York.
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I received a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Master's degree in School Administration and I recently completed an Educational Specialist degree in Language and Literacy from Simmons College in Boston.
I began my career in education as a Kindergarten teacher and have taught grades Pre-K through grade 6. I have worked in Massachusetts, Maine and now Vermont. I had been a school administrator for 17 years and decided to take my new knowledge about language and literacy and get back in a primary grades classroom where I hoped I could make a difference in lives of children; most importantly with reading.
I absolutely love teaching here at Sunderland Elementary School! The joy and innocence the children bring to school each day along with their wonderful thinking and creative ideas is an inspiration to me. My goal is to have every child I teach be excited about coming to school each day and for each one to become a proficient reader, writer and thinker.
I have also been amazed with the parent and community support here in Sunderland. A testimony to this was the way the parents and community put forth the time, energy and financial support for a tremendously meaningful overnight trip to Boston two years ago. Learning does indeed span a distance well beyond our classroom walls.
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The Sunderland Family is sad to announce that Ildiko "Ildy" Haller Vastola, 53, of Manchester, died Friday, May 25, 2007, at her home surrounded by her family and friends. She was born on Sept. 12, 1953, the daughter of Eugene and Valerie (Szajvolt) Haller in Sopron, Hungary.
Ildy came to the United States at the age of 3 and lived with her parents in Long Island, N.Y., where she received her early education. She later attended and graduated from Cortland College with a master’s degree in education. She was a teacher her whole life and taught not only other people’s children but her own as well. She homeschooled her children until she opened her own Christian school. She continued her career as a teacher at the Sunderland Elementary School.
She was also active in several civic organizations, served on several community boards and wanted to make a positive difference in her community. Ms.Vastola loved many things, her family chief among them. She enjoyed gardening and the outdoors, and often spent time attending sporting events and helping wherever she could.
Ildy Vastola is survived by a son, Gabriel Vastola of Manchester; two daughters, Anastasia Vastola and Olivia Vastola, both of Manchester; her mother, Valerie Haller of Manchester; a brother, Eugene Haller of East Hampton, N.Y.; several nieces and nephews and many friends.
She was predeceased by her father, Eugene Haller.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Olivia Vastola Scholarship Fund c/o Ker Westerlund Funeral Home, 57 High St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
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I have been teaching at Sunderland School now for eight years. Over the years I have taught either third or fourth grades, and am now looking forward to teaching both the third and fourth grade curriculum. I received my undergrad from The Pennsylvania State University and am now working toward my Master’s degree in Reading and Literacy from Walden University. I have traveled throughout the country, living in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Colorado, New York, and Vermont. Finally I have found a place to call home in Vermont. There is nothing quite like the country, mountains, and the small town closeness you feel here. In my spare time I enjoy getting lost on Vermont’s dirt roads (you just never know what you’ll discover), searching out estate/yard sales (otherwise known in the NE as “tag sales”), and spending time with my friends finding new adventures and building new memories.
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I am very excited to become a part of the Sunderland Family and look forward to getting to know the children. I have a Master of Arts in Elementary Education and experience teaching grades five through seven. It took me a while to figure out I wanted to teach. So many people, including my parents, (and what 20 year old ever listens to their parents?) said I should become a teacher. I, of course, decided to chart my own course, and here I am. My parents have very graciously never said, “We told you so.”
I live in North Bennington with my husband Mike, nine -year old son Christian (now a Sunderland third grader), and chocolate lab Plato. We named him Plato with the hope he might be wise and dignified. We should have named him Play Dough instead! We love to be very active; mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hiking, swimming. This is a good thing given my passion for large quantities of ice cream!
These early days have convinced me how lucky I am to be teaching at Sunderland Elementary School. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch should you have any concerns.
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This is my third year as the sixth grade teacher at Sunderland School. I really love the small school environment for the opportunity to get to know each student on a personal level. My goal in teaching is to prepare each student academically and socially for which ever school they choose to go to, as well as, developing wonderful memories of their years at Sunderland school. We as a staff have been working very hard to pull the Sunderland community together and the pride in our school really shows. I appreciate the commitment that the parents show to us teachers, their interest in their students’ education, and to their school.
I live in Shaftsbury and am married to Rick Klein. We have three wonderful children. My oldest son, Brooks, is in the navy and he travels all over the world. Forrest works carpentry with my husband. Cedar, our daughter is a Massage Therapist and Daycare Teacher Assistant. I had the privilege to be a stay home Mom for most of our children’s upbringing. I was very involved in the P.T.A., our church community and our school community.
I have many hobbies from knitting and crocheting, reading, to kayaking. Whether it is seeing the sights and meeting new people while traveling around our country or snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and exploring caves in Australia, I love to travel. I love to share and the students enjoy hearing about my traveling experiences. I hope to travel other countries throughout the world. I teach my students that the best way to know geography is to experience the lands and the people.
After attending many different colleges throughout my travels, I graduated from Russell Sage College in New York. I became a substitute teacher and a tutor for homebound students for several years. I have started and taught in two Title I reading and math programs, one in a large school of 700 students and one in a small school of 80 students. I have also taught fifth grade in MA. I am enjoying teaching sixth grade and am excited about all of the positive and exciting things happening in Sunderland School and look forward to future new and better things.
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