Gretchen Weir Email and Phone Number

I grew up in North Dakota and graduated from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD in 2017. While I attended BHSU, I coached middle and high school volleyball for the Spearfish School District and attained a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education with an endorsement in middle-level education and Social Studies, as well as a Criminal Justice Certificate. Playing volleyball, golfing, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family are some of the things I enjoy the most!I began my teaching career in 2018 when I was hired to teach English Language Arts in the 6th grade at Spearfish Middle School while also maintaining my coaching position within the high school girls' volleyball program.As an educator at Spearfish Middle School, I work closely with fellow teachers to develop and deliver highly effective lesson plans for my students. I collaborate with other ELA educators in our building to stay up to date on the best practices for reading, writing, and grammar. I also work alongside a team of three other teachers who share the same caseload of students. Together we ensure that the needs of all our students are being met. Along with my general classroom duties of teaching, grading, and creating lesson plans, I am responsible for participating in staff development and supervising various clubs and activities. I have also volunteered my time for the past two summers to accompany students on a school trip to Washington, D.C. as a chaperone. I excel at building relationships and believe that they are the driving force in a successful career. By volunteering my time during the summer and throughout the school year to chaperone events, I am continuing to nurture and develop relationships with my students and colleagues.I have just completed my 9th season coaching volleyball for the Spearfish School District. I began my career in 2015 when I was hired to coach the 7th grade girls' team at the middle school. Upon completion of that season, I moved up to the high school program to coach the freshman team and eventually moved into the sophomore coaching position which I currently hold. Throughout my coaching career I have learned how to make quick decisions while under immense pressure, de-escalate conflicts, and navigate difficult conversations with empathy. Along with these skills, I have also learned many different organization and leadership strategies. The numerous relationships I have built throughout this career continue to hold a special place in my heart and play a major role in my decision to continue in this position.