2nd Grade

Welcome to Second Grade

The Ashlawn Second Grade team would like to welcome you to Ashlawn Elementary School.

Ms. Margaret Ehlers

margaret.ehlers@apsva.us

I am super excited to be a part of the Ashlawn community! After working in the environmental field for 10 years, I stayed home with my two now-grown kids and then attended Marymount University, where I received a Master’s of Education. This is my 16th year teaching in Arlington and my 10th at Ashlawn, where I have taught both first grade and second grade. My favorite book is Miss Rumphius. Like her, I love to travel, spend time by the water, and work in my garden, where I’m always looking for more ways to attract birds, bees, and butterflies. One thing I really love about Ashlawn is that students have an opportunity for hands-on learning, exploration, and tasting in the Reevesland gardens. One of my favorite places in Arlington is Potomac Overlook, where you can find me hiking with my friends and family.

Ms. Eileen Foley

eileen.foley@apsva.us

Welcome to 2nd grade! I’m so excited to be a part of the Ashlawn community. I grew up in New York City and I just recently moved to Virginia. I received my Bachelors degree in Childhood Education from St. John’s University in New York where I student taught in a 2nd grade classroom. This past school year I worked as a substitute teacher in New York teaching students in grades K-6. This will be my first year teaching my own class! A little bit more about me is I love to travel, read, and play volleyball.

Ms. Elizabeth Howard
beth.howard@apsva.us

Ashlawn’s Global Citizenship Project is one reason I joined the staff with alacrity in 2013, a decade ago. The school places a premium on children exploring their vast universe through an open-minded, inclusive lens. I feel unbridled joy teaching Ashlawn 2nd graders because they eagerly try new things and experience countless “a-ha” moments as they develop their critical thinking skills. Their ability to absorb new ideas and learn is unsurpassed! Another draw of Ashlawn is staff collaboration on using the most up-to-date, educational research for high-impact instruction. We also insert the right dose of fun. Comic relief is important in my class, and so many children’s books easily meet that need. Fractured fairy tales and the author Candace Fleming get top billing. Beyond the walls of Ashlawn, I am always on the pursuit of an adventure. I recently reached an altitude above 16,000 feet in the Andes and, before becoming a parent, climbed the Great Wall of China and biked from Seattle to San Francisco. I return home to my native San Diego as often as possible and am never shy in expressing enthusiastic support of my two alma maters – UCLA and Johns Hopkins University – when they appear in the news. Go Ashlawn Eagles!

Ms. Alexa Rowane

alexa.rowane@apsva.us

I am so excited to be a part of the Ashlawn family! This is my sixth year teaching 2nd grade! I love it! I believe in creating a classroom culture where each student feels welcomed, needed, and LOVED. I know that happy kids learn best and I make it my mission to create a classroom culture that embodies these values. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from The University of Mississippi- Ole Miss. In my free time I love to read, go for walks and bike rides, travel, and spend time with my family and friends! Some of my favorite books are “Our Classroom is a Family” “Sheila Rae, The Brave” and “Dragons Love Tacos”