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1st Grade Classrooms

Tara Gniadek
gniadekt@ritenourschools.org

Hi Everyone!

My name is Mrs. Gniadek and I teach First Grade at Buder Elementary. I taught Kindergarten for 27 years for the Ritenour District.  This will be my second year teaching First Grade.   I have two daughters, Haley and Riley.  Haley attends the graduate program at The Ohio State and Riley attends SEMO.  I love spending time with family and friends.

I love building relationships and sparking a love for learning in my students.  
 

 

Ashley Martin
martinas@ritenourschools.org

Hello! My name is Ashley Martin. This is my 8th year of teaching. I previously taught kindergarten and preschool. I am excited to start my third year at Buder!  I have my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from UMSL. I just graduated with a master's in Curriculum and Instruction in July of 2024. I earned another master’s in educational technology and instructional design in June of this year!

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my two sons. I love being outside, working out, reading, and taking my dog, Penny, for walks. 

I am excited to meet my students and to become a classroom family. I hope that we can approach this year as a team to help your child grow!

Michelle Steele
steelem@ritenourschools.org

My name is Michelle Steele and I have been teaching about 10 years, seven here at Buder! I have been teaching First Grade for four years now and I love it. I began as a social worker, so I work hard to create an equitable, loving, and supportive community in the classroom. 

I have a daughter in college at St. Louis University, a dog named Tyson who is THE best boy, and four lizards (Stella, Vincent, Jack, and Maui.)
 

Chynna Young
youngc@ritenourschools.org 

Hello! My name is Chynna Young and this will be my fourth year teaching. I graduated from Mizzou with a bachelors in Early Childhood Education. I completed my first two years of teaching in Hazelwood and taught Pre-K and kindergarten. I am very excited to be in Ritenour School District and to be teaching first grade. I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my dog Bentley, and going to the gym after school. I cannot wait to get to know all of my students!