My name is Michele Harper and I am a second grade teacher at Horizons Elementary School.  I received my Bachelor's degree in Elementary  Education from Saint Martin's University.  I have a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University.  This program taught me how to use art approaches (music, visual arts, storytelling, creative movement, poetry and drama) in the classroom and how to integrate these into reading, writing and math. I have twelve years of experience teaching and this is my eighth year in second grade.   My family and I have lived in this area for most of our lives.  In fact, my husband and I both went to elementary, middle, and high school in the North Thurston School district.  I have two children and a dog Juliet.  Devon is an eighth grader at Chinook Middle School and Kammi graduated from the University of Washington and lives and works in Seattle.  Juliet spends most of her time sleeping in front of the fireplace.