Hi Students and Parents!

          I'm Heidi Essert-Dini. This is my 32nd year teaching in the Deer Valley School District. My first year in Deer Valley began at Esperanza Elementary School as a librarian. It was an exciting position in which I was able to make the media center the hub of the school through sponsoring various cultural activities and allowing open library time for children to explore books and book related activities.
          For the next 4 years, I taught second graders at Esperanza while continuing my education working towards my Reading Specialist endorsement. In 1996, I moved to Las Brisas. The parental support & commitment along with the dedicated, helpful staff at Las Brisas has made the past 27 years truly enjoyable.
          Here at Las Brisas I have taught Fifth Grade Math, along with Third, Second, First, and Kindergarten. I also worked as an instructor in SAGE (Gifted) MATH, a Reading Specialist, and an English Language Learner (ELL) Instructor. My goal as an educator is to provide a developmentally appropriate learning environment that meets the individual needs of each student through a curriculum full of engaging and relevant activities. My hope is that by providing this type of environment, each child will develop a love of learning that will stay with them throughout their lifetime.
          This year I will serve once again as our Reading Specialist.  I am excited about working with students to help strengthen their reading abilities.