Fourth Grade Website

I grew up in upstate New York, in the small town of Monticello. I have one sister, Cindy, and we share the same birthday. We are not twins, just born two years apart. I first earned a degree in a two year program at SUNY (State University of New York) at Morrisville for Design and Drafting with an Architectural concentration. I then switched my major over to education and earned my teaching degree from SUNY Oneonta. I graduated in 1997 with Honors in Education, with a minor in computer science.

My grandparents were snowbirds to AZ and stayed in Sun City during the winter months. One winter break, I came to visit them and my cousins, and fell in love with Arizona. The seasons go from summer to spring all year round. Coming from New York, there really isn't a winter here. I don't miss shoveling the snow, but I do miss the downhill skiing.

In December 2025, I will celebrate my 28th year teaching!  I have taught computer class, 5th grade and 4th grade as well has running a computer club.  I am also Terramar's webmaster.

I love many sports, including road and mountain biking, running, hiking, snow skiing, waterskiing, and boating. My dad has built boats all of his life, in these pictures you see "Sugar N Spice" built in 1984. The sailboat you see is "Celestial Voyager." My dad and I built this in his garage in Desert Hills, along with my grandfather.

The sailboat had it's maiden voyage a few days after I got married, in 2004. Robyn and I met at a webmasters meeting and she teaches at Copper Creek Elementary School. We now live in Surprise and have two wonderful boys, Joshua and Zachary.  We are a family of geeks, we all love science fiction, Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who just to name a few.

I started my career in the Deer Valley district back in August of 2000 teaching 4th grade. I am actually a product of the Deer Valley district, as I attended Bellair, Desert Sky, and graduated from Deer Valley High School in 1995.  I feel honored to teach in the district where I grew up.  I am excited to be a part of the Terramar family since the 2021-2022 school year.  

After high school, I went to Glendale Community College and then transferred to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ to graduate with a Bachelor's of Science in Education.  In May of 2008 I received my Master's in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. I have expertise in Kagan learning structures, Thinking Maps, and The Leader In Me.  I was honored to be one of the nominees for Deer Valley Teacher of the Year for the 2019-2020 school year.  

Some of my hobbies include reading, dancing, going on road trips, and spending time at home with my family. My favorite types of books to read are autobiographies.  I have been dancing since I was 7 years old.  I have practiced many styles of dance: jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, and hip hop; but my favorite is tap!  I teach a few tap classes each summer.  My favorite road trips have been to visit family in Illinois, Colorado, or South Carolina, and spending time at the beach in California. My family consists of my daughter Hailee, husband Scott, and our chocolate lab, Mocha.

Teaching has been pretty much the only thing I ever wanted to do.  I remember playing  "school" with my stuffed animals when I was little.  My mom had bought a huge chalkboard and I used to teach my "lessons" to anyone who would listen.  As I grew older I thought about going into music as I studied flute in high school and college but I ultimately decided on going into the classroom because I just loved teaching all subjects.   

I believe that an effective teacher is one who not only has high expectations, but provides a positive atmosphere and builds positive relationships with his/her students.  This establishes a culture of trust and understanding which leads to an environment where students learn at high levels.

I look forward to meeting you and your child this year!

Hi! I’m Miss Waligora, and I’m so excited to be part of the Terramar team. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee with a degree in education. After finishing school, I decided to move out west—and I couldn’t be happier with my choice! Arizona has quickly become home, and I absolutely love it here.

Teaching is my passion, and I work hard to create a fun, supportive classroom where students feel encouraged to learn and grow. Outside of school, I love being outdoors—whether I’m camping, hammocking, or swimming at the lake. I also enjoy traveling, especially when I get to visit my family in Wisconsin and Florida. One of my favorite adventure buddies is my golden retriever puppy, Brewer, who’s always up for joining me on walks or road trips.

I’m looking forward to a fantastic school year ahead!

Jenna Waligora

4th Grade ELA/SS Teacher

Terramar Academy of the Arts

Welcome to 4th Grade!

Hello! My name is Miss Vinyard, and I’m so excited to be your student’s 4th grade ELA and Social Studies teacher this year! This will be my first-year teaching at Terramar, and I can’t wait to begin this journey. I’m originally from California but moved to Arizona to attend college. I went to GCU and graduated with my Bachelor’s degree

Outside of the classroom, I love staying active—I enjoy running, playing pickleball, and tennis. I also have a passion for music and reading, and I’m always up for trying something new and creative.

Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and I'm committed to creating a classroom environment where every student feels inspired and ready to learn. In our classroom, you can expect to feel included, valued, and respected. I believe in creating a space where kindness is shown every day, and where students not only grow academically, but also socially and emotionally. We're going to learn so much together, and I’m especially excited to watch my students grow into confident, capable learners.

I’m looking forward to an amazing year filled with learning, laughter, and growth!

With excitement,
Miss Vinyard