Staff spotlight: Fernbrook Elementary’s special education teacher Sarah Freese

At Fernbrook Elementary School, special education teacher Sarah Freese has worked with students for three and a half years, creating a supportive learning environment with individualized instruction to help her students succeed.  

Freese studied biology for four years before deciding to pursue something completely different. She worked for a few years as a nanny and personal care assistant and loved it, finding it rewarding to see the kids succeed and be an advocate for them. She went back to school to get her education degree, focusing on special education, and student taught at Elm Creek Elementary School before getting the job as a special education teacher at Fernbrook after graduating.  

Freese’s favorite part of her job is seeing the students grow and working with them from year to year. At Fernbrook, the special education teachers work with the same students throughout their time in elementary school, which allows them to be the best advocates for the students and help them through any challenge they may face.  

“It’s always something different. I have different kids on my caseload and am always working with different kids,” Freese said. “It is always something that is unique and is individualized and different for every student. It is fun to see how much they grow as they start getting that support or figure out something that they are interested in.”

Freese works with 24 kindergarten and first grade students this year, working on their reading, math, socio-emotional learning and functional skills. Some of her students she meets with every day, while some she works with a few times a week. She enjoys working with elementary school students because of the great progress they can make in just a few short years.

“Getting early intervention and the help that students need can help them grow to the point where they don’t even need the help of special education teachers anymore because they have the tools and equipment to take off,” Freese said. “I think that the number one goal of special education is getting them to a place where they are independent. Everyone is different and growth is different.”

Freese loves working at Fernbrook because of the community of staff, teachers and the principal and the support they provide each other every day. 

“Everyone calls it Fernbrook magic because it just has its own feeling of community and its own magic to it. It is truly unique,” Freese said.

In her free time, Freese likes to hang out with her three dogs, go to gym, spend time with family and friends, be active outdoors and read.