 | Grade 6-8 Social Studies
Grade 6 Social Studies
My name is Kim Munson, and I am thrilled be apart of the Paideia community as the Language Arts and Social Studies teacher for 6th grade this year! In 2002 I earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Mary in Business Administration. Right after completing my undergraduate studies, I decided to join AmeriCorps and move to the Twin Cities. As an AmeriCorps volunteer, I worked as a youth and family worker in an afterschool program and believe that experience confirmed a sneaking suspicion I always had which was to become a school teacher.
I then joined a Fortune 300 brokerage and financial planning firm in Minneapolis conducting classroom training for domestic and international employees. I worked there for nearly six years all while pursuing a master's degree in education from the University of Saint Thomas. I earned my master's degree in 2008 and then finished the teaching licensure requirements so my dream of becoming a teacher would finally become a reality.
I am married to a wonderful husband and live in Apple Valley. We have a dog named Colonel who is the center of attention in our home! I love to read classical and contemporary literature and am particularly fond of works by Willa Cather, Charlotte Bronte, Kaye Gibbons, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. In my spare time I enjoy running, organizing, reading (of course!), baking cookies, and spending time with all of my nieces and nephews.
I look forward to getting to know the students and families of Paideia better this year.
Grade 7 and 8 Social Studies
My name is Leah Hood, and I teach 7th and 8th grade Social Studies at Paideia Academy. This is my third year teaching at Paideia! I grew up on a farm in Northeast Iowa, where my dad is a farmer and my mom is a high school History teacher. I graduated from Macalester College in 2005, with degrees in History and Geography, and a focus on Education; I am currently working to complete my Masters of Arts in Teaching at Hamline University. I love to sing, read, travel, bbq, go to Twins games, watch the World Cup, watch historical documentaries, and listen to NPR/MPR. My favorite book is, To Kill a Mockingbird; I like to listen to The Beatles, Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns, The National, Josh Ritter, the Dixie Chicks, Joe Pug, and Delta Spirit, among others; I love the movies Almost Famous and The Lives of Others. Some of my favorite historians are Howard Zinn, Karen Armstrong, and Doris Kearns Goodwin. This summer I traveled to the Pacific Northwest with my family, as well as to New Orleans to visit family friends; I am headed to the Boundary Waters, Montana, and India this fall! I am truly excited about teaching at Paideia again this year!
 Special Education Social Studies
My name is Susan Edmonson, and this is my fourth year teaching at Paideia and I am excited to be back in middle school! I will be co-teaching Language Arts and Social Studies with Mrs. Munson. I taught kindergarten last year and worked in middle school my first two years here
I have two little ones at home, Logan (3) and Kiara (1) and my husband is Jeff. We have an active life at home and love to be on the go. Our family spends a lot of time outside and going to the zoo and parks.
I am looking forward to getting to know the students and their families this year!
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