Hi, I’m Brandy Hawthorne and I’ve been in the field of education for 30 plus years now. I am excited to have finally made it to 5^th grade after many years as a preschool, kinder, 1^st, and 3^rd grade teacher.  I love connecting with my students and being part of their school journey.  My goal is for my students to LOVE school, LOVE learning, and LOVE to read! 

I have been married to my college sweetie for 34 ½ years and we have 4 children. We have 2 dogs and 3 cats, and yes, we have fallen IN LOVE with having cats and added our 3^rd this summer after finding her all alone and starving.  

I love singing  Sondheim (known for Broadway musicals) loudly, and probably not very well, as well as 80’s music (the Go-Go’s and Cyndi Lauper), old jazzy tunes (think Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald), hymns & praise & worship, and more. I also enjoy listening to podcasts (real life everyday stories, news & pop-culture game shows), listening to books on Audible (I can “read” while cleaning, driving, etc), and watching shows on my phone. My fave books to listen to are either cozy mysteries (think murder in an English village solved by an elderly spinster) or psychological thrillers (imagine someone who befriends you only to exact their revenge upon you by driving you mad). 

The best part of life is laughter with friends and family over good food (I love cooking but am a horrible baker) and singing without care who is listening.  Live life to your fullest because it is too short and there is not time for regret.