Sobre Yo- About Me
My name is Katie Rehberg. I was born and raised in Billings, Montana. I was graduated from Billings Senior High School in 2006, and Montana State University in 2011.
My history in learning Spanish:
In 2000, my family moved to Washington, D.C. I went to a middle/high school that was on an intensive "International Baccalaureate" diploma program. One of the many requirements was six years of a foreign language. Because of this, the middle school started foreign languages in sixth grade. I had never had a foreign language class before, and had to choose between Spanish and French. Well, I knew how to count to "cinco" in Spanish, so I was enrolled in Spanish tutoring to get me up to level with my classmates.
A year and a half later, I moved back to Billings, and was a year ahead of all my Senior High classmates! Spanish was never my easiest subject, so I understand when people get frustrated learning a new language. But, I stuck with it, and by my senior year, I was taking 300 level courses at Montana State University - Billings.
In 2006 I headed to Moorhead, Minnesota to be a music education major (vocal) at Concordia College. While there, I sang in the Chapel Choir, and taught dance at Bonnie Haney School of Dance. I soon realized that, as much as I loved music, I was not happy. My life was music from morning until night and my stress relief had become my stressor. The education program, however, provided me the opportunity to work in an ESL classroom. I realized that my calling was to be a Spanish teacher. It incorporated all the things I loved... music... drama... dance... history... culture.... and words!
In 2008 I transferred to Montana State University and enrolled as a Spanish Education major with a minor in Music and a minor in Government Teaching. While there I had the opportunity to sing with the MSU Chorale and hold offices in Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women. Pi Beta Phi had a very important philanthropy to me: literacy. I also was able to teach Spanish at Longfellow Elementary and Hawthorne Elementary, as well as Sacajawea Middle School.
I completed my student teaching in Ennis, and helped coach their cheer squad.
I taught for two years at a K-12 school in West Yellowstone, MT. I had the opportunity to teach Spanish K-12, English as a Second Language K-2, and Senior Government. I also taught English at the West Yellowstone Public Library for adult English Language Learners.
My history in Political Science:
If you had told me in high school that I would be a Spanish and Political Science teacher, I would have laughed at the joke. Never did I think I would end up teaching Spanish, and especially not politics. You've already read how Spanish chose me. Now I will explain how Political Science chose me.
My family has always been active in politics, going back generations. My mother is a lawyer and my father was a rancher until he ran for office. He has been a statesman since 1989 (I was one year old when he was elected to the Montana House of Representatives.)
Most of my childhood was spent waving in parades, stuffing envelopes and licking stamps, and going door-to-door on the campaign trail. I was ridiculed for most of my formative years by my peers, and teachers, simply because I was my father's daughter. Very quickly, I developed a thick skin and sharp tongue (which have both helped and hindered me over the years.) But in the midst of the drudgery and derision, I developed a knack for understanding politics from multiple angles, and a love of my country and our government.
When I began college, I had to take a U.S. Government class as part of the core curriculum. I loved it. I loved everything about it. I was intrigued by everything. And because of my thick skin and sharp tongue, I excelled. I quickly chose Government Teaching as my minor. I wanted to teach political science.I have had the pleasure of teaching multiple Political Science classes such as Senior Government, Global Issues, and 6th Grade Law.
I fiercely believe that civic education is the most important job of the American public school system. Our schools prepare students for careers, but we severely lack in the preparation of our students to be citizens. My hope is that I can instill in my students the importance of understanding our government, those of other countries, and how we interact with each other on domestic and international levels
So what else do I do?
I have taught Irish Dance for 10 years. I founded and coached the Spirit of West Yellowstone cheer team for two years. I sing, dance, and act. I play hand bells, piano, flute, and cello (albeit poorly!).
My history in learning Spanish:
In 2000, my family moved to Washington, D.C. I went to a middle/high school that was on an intensive "International Baccalaureate" diploma program. One of the many requirements was six years of a foreign language. Because of this, the middle school started foreign languages in sixth grade. I had never had a foreign language class before, and had to choose between Spanish and French. Well, I knew how to count to "cinco" in Spanish, so I was enrolled in Spanish tutoring to get me up to level with my classmates.
A year and a half later, I moved back to Billings, and was a year ahead of all my Senior High classmates! Spanish was never my easiest subject, so I understand when people get frustrated learning a new language. But, I stuck with it, and by my senior year, I was taking 300 level courses at Montana State University - Billings.
In 2006 I headed to Moorhead, Minnesota to be a music education major (vocal) at Concordia College. While there, I sang in the Chapel Choir, and taught dance at Bonnie Haney School of Dance. I soon realized that, as much as I loved music, I was not happy. My life was music from morning until night and my stress relief had become my stressor. The education program, however, provided me the opportunity to work in an ESL classroom. I realized that my calling was to be a Spanish teacher. It incorporated all the things I loved... music... drama... dance... history... culture.... and words!
In 2008 I transferred to Montana State University and enrolled as a Spanish Education major with a minor in Music and a minor in Government Teaching. While there I had the opportunity to sing with the MSU Chorale and hold offices in Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women. Pi Beta Phi had a very important philanthropy to me: literacy. I also was able to teach Spanish at Longfellow Elementary and Hawthorne Elementary, as well as Sacajawea Middle School.
I completed my student teaching in Ennis, and helped coach their cheer squad.
I taught for two years at a K-12 school in West Yellowstone, MT. I had the opportunity to teach Spanish K-12, English as a Second Language K-2, and Senior Government. I also taught English at the West Yellowstone Public Library for adult English Language Learners.
My history in Political Science:
If you had told me in high school that I would be a Spanish and Political Science teacher, I would have laughed at the joke. Never did I think I would end up teaching Spanish, and especially not politics. You've already read how Spanish chose me. Now I will explain how Political Science chose me.
My family has always been active in politics, going back generations. My mother is a lawyer and my father was a rancher until he ran for office. He has been a statesman since 1989 (I was one year old when he was elected to the Montana House of Representatives.)
Most of my childhood was spent waving in parades, stuffing envelopes and licking stamps, and going door-to-door on the campaign trail. I was ridiculed for most of my formative years by my peers, and teachers, simply because I was my father's daughter. Very quickly, I developed a thick skin and sharp tongue (which have both helped and hindered me over the years.) But in the midst of the drudgery and derision, I developed a knack for understanding politics from multiple angles, and a love of my country and our government.
When I began college, I had to take a U.S. Government class as part of the core curriculum. I loved it. I loved everything about it. I was intrigued by everything. And because of my thick skin and sharp tongue, I excelled. I quickly chose Government Teaching as my minor. I wanted to teach political science.I have had the pleasure of teaching multiple Political Science classes such as Senior Government, Global Issues, and 6th Grade Law.
I fiercely believe that civic education is the most important job of the American public school system. Our schools prepare students for careers, but we severely lack in the preparation of our students to be citizens. My hope is that I can instill in my students the importance of understanding our government, those of other countries, and how we interact with each other on domestic and international levels
So what else do I do?
I have taught Irish Dance for 10 years. I founded and coached the Spirit of West Yellowstone cheer team for two years. I sing, dance, and act. I play hand bells, piano, flute, and cello (albeit poorly!).