SAA Kindergarten Teacher Wins Tennessee Lottery Educator of the Week

Pass by the Kindergarten classroom in St. Agnes and you never know what you’ll find-may be singing, could be dancing, but there is definitely smiling and learning. There is an energy emanating from the room that is reflective of the teacher-Ms. Jamie Lassandrello. We are proud to announce that her energy has earned her the Tennessee Lottery Educator of the Week recognition for this week on WREG News Channel 3.

Her nomination, submitted by a fellow teacher reads:“Jamie is an advocate for the statement ‘Everything I need to know, I learned in Kindergarten.’  She provides a vibrant, safe, warm, and loving environment for her students to learn and grow. Jamie embodies qualities such as creativity, resilience, and compassion. Her energy is infectious! She invests countless hours into refining her teaching approaches to enable the utmost understanding. Jamie bolsters a harmonious relationship with her students and their families. She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes!”

Jamie holds a Master of Arts and Teaching with a concentration in Early Childhood Education and has been a Lead Teacher on our campus since 2013. In 2020 she moved from Junior Kindergarten into the role of SAA Kindergarten teacher, and truly found her calling!

 “Ms. Lassandrello is without a doubt doing what God created her to do,” said SAA Lower School Dean Jenn Wojcik. “It takes tremendous energy, patience, knowledge and organizational skill to effectively facilitate learning in a Kindergarten classroom, but Jamie takes early learning to a whole new level. Our KinderStars unique and dynamic experience is directly connected to the creative, fun-loving spirit and passionate dedication of our beloved Jamie Lass.”

Jamie is a 2005 alumna of St. Agnes, along with her sisters Jenny (’00) and Kate (’03). Her father Jim served as SAA-SDS Athletic Director for more than 20 years. Outside the classroom, she coaches Lower School volleyball and basketball teams and is often a “Teacher in the Bleachers” at Upper School sports. An active member of our Alumnae Association, there is no bigger cheerleader for the mission of St. Agnes and its students.

Dean Wojcik concluded, “On so many levels, Jamie understands what a blessing it is to be a St. Agnes Star, and she instills in the hearts of her students a pride and gratitude for our sisterhood, a genuine love of learning, and the confidence to do great things. Her colorful personality shines in every lesson, and her students and colleagues alike feel her heart in all she does. We are thrilled that Jamie has been recognized as "Educator of the Week!"

Click here to view the video on WREG-News Channel 3

https://wreg.com/news/jamie-lassandrello-of-st-agnes-academy-is-this-weeks-tennessee-lottery-educator-of-the-week/