About Mrs. Viste
by Jackie Viste
The 2010-2011 school year will be my sixth year teaching at Riverton Middle School. While this is my 6th year teaching in Riverton, this will be my 9th year teaching overall. I graduated in 2002 from St. Xavier University in Chicago, IL with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. My area of concentration was biology and general science and I immersed myself in every biological science class that was offered (ranging everywhere from human anatomy to genetics). My teaching career began as a 6th and 7th grade science teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. After getting married and moving to Central Illinois, I spent my first two years at Riverton teaching 5th grade. When the opportunity to return to a science position presented itself, I jumped at it and have enjoyed being the 8th grade science teacher and seeing the students off to the high school. In 2008, I completed my Master's degree in Teacher Leadership from UIS.
Personally, I grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and moved to central Illinois after marrying my husband, Bill. We have known each other since the 5th grade! We have one dog, Snuggles, and one cat, Leo (short for Leonardo da Viste). Snuggles is the sweetest dog ever, but Leo is quite the opposite. We are expecting another addition to our family this October as we anxiously await the birth of our first baby!
It is extremely important to me that all of my students feel comfortable in class, and realize their own potential. I believe that each of the 8th graders have the opportunity to reach any goal they set for themselves, and I hope to play a part in helping them feel successful and become prepared for their future.
