Hello! My name is Christy Frear and I am extremely excited to be joining the staff of Falling Branch Elementary School for the 2014-2015 school year! I am originally from Centreville, which is in northern Virginia. I attended schools in Fairfax County and committed to graduating from Centreville High School (home of the Wildcats). During my high school years, I participated in several academic clubs and sports teams including lacrosse, field hockey, and gymnastics. A class I took during my senior year of high school called Teacher Cadet inspired me to consider teaching as a career path.
I attended college and graduate school at Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!). I spent five wonderful years completing VT’s undergraduate and graduate program in Teaching and Learning. Between my college courses and working for the Virginia Tech Literacy Corp as a tutor, I had the fortune of helping students in many MCPS locations. I even spent a two-semester internship, as well as a semester Student Teaching, at FBES(!). I am thrilled to be returning to the school that solidified my love for teaching children.
Upon graduating from VT, my next adventure brought me to the Richmond area where I began teaching third grade students. I planned on staying in the Richmond area for 2-3 years, but I loved my school, staff, and students so much that I continued to teach third graders for the next twelve years!
But...I never forgot about my love for the Blacksburg and New River Valley area. Despite learning a lot from my years teaching in Richmond, I made the decision to move back to southwest Virginia, which for me, has always felt like “home”. I look forward to settling in to my new residence in Blacksburg.
When I'm not working, I really enjoy getting lost in a great book. I enjoy mysteries, thrillers, memoirs, and humor--and I sometimes even (attempt) to write my own stories! Photography, hiking, and watching (VT) football are also hobbies. I am also a Pet Parent to my two cats, Liona and Waffles.
I look forward to meeting and working with a new group of students this year! I am grateful for the opportunity to help children grow and become lifelong learners.