Mrs. Benedict

Becky Benedict

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2O6QLD4KFMTVI?ref_=list_d_wl_lfu_nav_4
Birthday: March 15th
Hobbies: Reading, walking, flowers/gardening
Class Color or Theme: Cactus
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Los Zarapes, Wild Hare, Breaking Taco, Buffalo WW
Favorite Snack: Snack mix or skinny pop
Favorite Soda or Drink: Diet Pepsi
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: Iced vanilla latte
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: the things on my amazon wish list 🙂
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: coffee cups/mugs
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: share successes, struggles, and stories about their kids and ask questions whenever they are unsure of something.


Mrs. Benner

Kelli Benner

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3PFU4Z2DGL3Z6?ref_=wl_share
Birthday: October 15th
Hobbies: Traveling, Hiking, Attending Sporting Events
Class Color or Theme: Flamingos & Pineapples! (Yellow, Teal, & Pink)
Favorite Color: Yellow!
Favorite College or Sports Team: I’m a BIG fan of our Fighting Illini! I also love the Chicago Cubs!
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ulta
Favorite Places to Eat: Monicals, Chili’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Los Zarapes
Favorite Snack: Pickle Chips, Sweet & Sour Candy (Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Gummy Bears),Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Almond Joy
Favorite Soda or Drink: Dr. Pepper & Bubbly
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: French Vanilla Latte
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None


Mrs. Deer

Kristen Deer

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3KCHAQN974LGA?ref_=wl_share
Birthday: January 2nd
Class Color or Theme: Rocky Mountains & Adventure – blues/greens
Favorite Color: Different Hues of Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini ,Cubs, Bears (49ers by marriage), Blackhawks
Favorite Places to Shop: Amazon & Target
Favorite Places to Eat: Breaking Taco, Los Zarape’s, Watson’s Shake and Rail
Favorite Snack: Carmel Apples & Kettle Corn
Favorite Soda or Drink: Bubbly Water all flavors
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: black coffee or unsweet iced tea
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: Flexible Seating (cushions, pillows, benches, etc) – I will be adding some to the amazon wishlist
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: Mugs or coffee travel cups
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Work with me as a team and communicate with me about their student’s needs; Read with their students


Mrs. Fritz

Gay Fritz

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://a.co/3AcfGP2
Birthday: August 15th
Hobbies: Hiking, Camping, Reading, Kayaking, Traveling
Class Color or Theme: Any Color
Favorite Color: Blue and Green
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illinois Fighting Illini and Mahomet Bulldogs!
Favorite Places to Shop: Sam’s Club, Target, Aldi
Favorite Places to Eat: Culvers, Jimmy Johns, Filippos, Papa Dells
Favorite Snack: peanuts/nuts, apples, chocolate, Sun Chips, pretzels, cinnamon gum
Favorite Soda or Drink: Diet Dr. Pepper and Unsweetened Tea
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: Iced Coffee
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: Safety door stops for my classroom door (on my Amazon wish list)
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Tell me about victories their children are having and share positive stories/experiences their child has told them about.


Mrs. Jones

Megan Jones

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2L70I6DXXHOG4/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
Birthday: April 5th
Hobbies: working out, going to Sages and U of I sporting events
Class Color or Theme: Oh Happy Day- see wish list 🙂
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini or Cubs
Favorite Places to Shop: Target and Sam’s
Favorite Places to Eat: Jimmy Johns
Favorite Snack: Turkey Bites and Protein Chips
Favorite Soda or Drink: Diet Mountain Dew
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: Don’t drink coffee but love the food at Whisk
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: lPlease see Amazon wish list
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: Trinkets or Coffee Cups
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: help their child come to school ready to learn each day


Mrs. Kaiser

Julie Kaiser

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3SZ5UL24YU4KX?ref_=wl_share
Birthday: November 23rd
Hobbies: Gardening, working out, going for walks
Favorite Color: Navy, pink, forest green
Favorite College or Sports Team: Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Fighting Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Prairie Gardens, Homegoods, Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Los Zarapes, Breaking Taco
Favorite Snack: Chocolate, Skittles
Favorite Soda or Drink: Arizona Tea Arnold Palmer, Diet Coke
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: Iced Green Tea
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: Gluten Intolerance
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: Mugs, cups
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Read with their child every night!


Mrs. Mattsey

Carrie Mattsey

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2R5MCLEZF5OAF/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2
Birthday: July 8th
Hobbies: Photography, Camping, Reading
Favorite Color: It changes every day!
Favorite College or Sports Team: Millikin Cross Country & Track
Favorite Places to Shop: Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Mexican of any kind
Favorite Snack: Milk Chocolate
Favorite Soda or Drink: Flavored Coffee!
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: White Chocolate Mocha with oat milk
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: Math and science games
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Stay in touch on Remind!


Mrs. McGill

Emily McGill

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3SRTOO8OFBAV3?ref_=wl_share
Birthday: May 12th
Hobbies: Spending time with my family, playing Monopoly Deal, cheering on the Illini and Bulldogs, reading, going on walks, want to grow as a golfer, want to learn how to play pickleball, plant mama
Class Color or Theme: Sailor theme with whales–navy and pink
Favorite Color: Hot pink
Favorite College or Sports Team: University of Illinois… I-L-L!
Favorite Places to Shop: Art Mart, Nordstrom, Amazon, TJ Maxx, Briella’s
Favorite Places to Eat: Art Mart, Ko Fusion, Bunny’s, Smithburger, Project 47, Sunsinger
Favorite Snack: Charcuterie, fruit, chips and guac/queso
Favorite Soda or Drink: Unsweetened Iced Tea & Diet Coke
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: Hot coffee–black
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: Currently: a Spider plant and the book titled– “The World’s Best Class Plant”
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Keep in touch! Once a Sailor…always a Sailor. Love cheering on my students outside of school even after they’re gone.


Stephanie Merkle

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/10MD2MDX4S50M?ref_=wl_share
Birthday: August 28th
Hobbies: Walking, boating, jeeping, working out
Class Color or Theme: confetti
Favorite Color: purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini, EIU, Cape Fear
Favorite Places to Shop: Home Goods, Hobby Lobby
Favorite Places to Eat: Los, Yo, yo’s, Whisk, Texas Roadhouse
Favorite Snack: Nuts, Jerky, Baked Chips
Favorite Soda or Drink: Unsweet Ice Tea
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: Unsweet Ice Tea
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: flexible seating
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: mugs or coffee cups
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Write notes, read with their kiddos, say “hi” when they see me in public!


Mrs. Raver

Jana Raver


Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2WN2BSJ926425?ref_=wl_share
Birthday: December 3rd
Hobbies: Spending time with family, reading, travel, shopping, flower gardening, exercise/fitness
Class Color or Theme: Pale yellow/travel-adventure theme
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite College or Sports Team: Ohio State
Favorite Places to Shop: Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart
Favorite Places to Eat: Subway, Dos Reales, Breaking Taco, Dunkin’
Favorite Snack: Protein bars, Gummy Bears, flavored almonds/pistachios, baked BBQ chips/baked Cheetos
Favorite Soda or Drink: Diet Mt Dew, LaCroix/mineral water, Sunkist Zero
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: Non-fat cappuccino or latte, caramel or pumpkin
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: Wishlist Items! Also…books, flair pens, fun Crayola markers/crayons, “Teachers Pay Teachers” gift cards are super helpful!
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: Coffee mugs 🙂
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Invest in supporting the development of their growing 2nd grade readers, writers and mathematicians!


Mrs. Stipp

Joan Stipp

Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1WX4UZH2Q70I5/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
Birthday: January 19th
Hobbies: reading, word finds
Class Color or Theme: Confetti (yellow, pink, red, green, etc)
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: STL Cardinals, St. Louis University, Illinois State
Favorite Places to Shop: Kohl’s, Macy’s
Favorite Places to Eat: Breaking Taco, Jimmy Johns, Patricio’s, Chik-fil-a
Favorite Snack: Pringles, pretzels
Favorite Soda or Drink: Coke or Pepsi, Tea
Favorite Coffee Shop Order: Chai Tea latte, caramel or white chocolate flavored drinks
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
For my classroom, I’m looking for: headphones, games
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: work with me to help their child and let me know of concerns