A Little About Me
Hello and welcome. My name is Mrs. Kristen Vargas and I'm excited to be teaching first grade at Lake in the Hills Elementary this year. I recently got married, which is why my name isn't Ms. Kleiva anymore. Same person, different last name. This will be my fourth year teaching and third year teaching in Illinois. I was born and raised in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University with my degree in Elementary Education with a middle school endorsement in 2012. After graduation, I moved down to Clarksville, Tennessee by myself to accept a job teaching first grade at a STEM magnet school. I absolutely loved it down there and learned so much about teaching and the minds of 6 and 7 year olds. Although I enjoyed every minute of it, I missed my family, friends and Chicago too much. So now, I'm back! Children are my biggest passion and I love coming to work everyday to shape the faces of our future.
A few random facts about Ms. Kleiva:
*I love to run and be outside.
*I love to bake...anything!!
*Another thing I'm passionate about are animals, specifically dogs. For the past 4 summers, I have fostered multiple litters of abandoned pupppies through a shelter.
*I'll read any book once...even if it's not very good. Why not give it a chance?
*I am the oldest in my family. My younger sister and I are only 20 months apart, but we are super close.
*I have 3 dogs, Bronx is a 4 year old terrier mix, Tio is 3 year old smooth coat border collie and Mickey is a 5 year old Chihuahua. They are the loves of my life! :)
*I ran my first half marathon in May 2012.
*I've been to Hawaii once.
*I could live off pizza, ice cream and Italian or Mexican cuisine, along with a coffee or a diet coke in hand!
*I drove cross country from Alaska back to Chicago in 12 days with my cousin!
I get by with a little help from my friends, family and laughter! :)
*I love to run and be outside.
*I love to bake...anything!!
*Another thing I'm passionate about are animals, specifically dogs. For the past 4 summers, I have fostered multiple litters of abandoned pupppies through a shelter.
*I'll read any book once...even if it's not very good. Why not give it a chance?
*I am the oldest in my family. My younger sister and I are only 20 months apart, but we are super close.
*I have 3 dogs, Bronx is a 4 year old terrier mix, Tio is 3 year old smooth coat border collie and Mickey is a 5 year old Chihuahua. They are the loves of my life! :)
*I ran my first half marathon in May 2012.
*I've been to Hawaii once.
*I could live off pizza, ice cream and Italian or Mexican cuisine, along with a coffee or a diet coke in hand!
*I drove cross country from Alaska back to Chicago in 12 days with my cousin!
I get by with a little help from my friends, family and laughter! :)