Teacher Spotlight: Kristi Griffith

Have you met Ms. Kristi Griffith yet? She graduated with high honors from Michigan State University with a B.A. in French and education, and received her master’s degree in Spanish education through the University of Southern Mississippi and Centro Mexicano Internacional in Morelia, Mexico. She has been instrumental in forming Dawson’s World Language program and recently completed extensive training to achieve the designation of an AIM Certified Teacher from AIM (Accelerated Integrated Method) Language Learning in Canada. Currently, she teaches French and Spanish, and you can learn more about her in this edition of #DawsonTeacherSpotlight!
How long have you been a teacher?
This is my 28th year of teaching. I taught for eight years in Michigan before moving to Las Vegas. I taught for one year in the district before coming to Dawson in 2001 when the middle school first opened.

What’s your favorite thing about teaching at Dawson?
There are so many things that I love about teaching at Dawson. I love the wonderful students and families, the great colleagues, the beautiful campus, the amazing lunches! I love the small class sizes and supportive administration. There is a lot of flexibility to try new techniques, and there are many opportunities to continue learning.

What is your biggest goal for this school year?
My goal for this year was to host a World Language conference here at Dawson for teachers from all over the U.S. and Canada. This conference just took place during our Teacher Academy, and it was a huge success.

Describe a time when you had to choose courage over comfort.
Going to France for the first time when I was in college and living with a French family was definitely a time when I had to choose courage over comfort. I could barely say anything in French even though I had studied French for four years in high school and two years in college. My host family didn’t speak any English, and I remember that first day sitting in their kitchen, feeling scared, not understanding a word they said and wondering how I would survive the semester. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life.

What is one thing about you that would surprise your students?
I think my students would be surprised to know that they can actually speak French better than I could when I went to France for that very first time. In my high school and college French classes, we learned to talk ABOUT French, not to talk IN French. Here at Dawson, we are all about learning how to speak the language.

What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t working?
I love spending time with my family. I also love traveling, reading, Zumba and watching Mexican telenovelas.

What are you most proud of?
First of all, I am very proud of my two boys Charlie and Isaac. Second, I am really proud of how our world language program has grown over the years and how hard everyone in our department has worked to build such a strong, cohesive program. Finally, I am proud of my husband who has worked so hard to open up Mojave Brewing Company and turn his dream into a reality.
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The Alexander Dawson School

The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain, an independent school located on 33-acres in the community of Summerlin, is Nevada’s first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school for students in early childhood through grade eight. Utilizing the unique Challenge Success framework, Dawson uses research-based strategies and programs that emphasize student academics, wellbeing, and a healthy school-life balance to create more engaged, motivated, and resilient learners and leaders. At Dawson, students achieve their individual potential while savoring life and meeting the challenges of the world.