Meet Our 3rd Grade Teachers
Mrs. Bergener
My name is Laurie Bergener and I have been a teacher for 17 years. I have taught 2nd through 8th grade. I have been married for 10 years and have two sweet children- Colton is 8 and an avid soccer player and my daughter Calla is 5 and loves dancing and singing. My family loves to travel- we enjoy practicing our Spanish in Mexico, road-tripping to our country's beautiful National Parks (Bryce, Zion, Big Sur, Yosemite- to name a few) and this summer we are going to Hawaii to see volcanoes and Chicago to visit my nieces and nephews. I have been teaching at Hancock for the past 3 years and adore the students, families and Hancock staff.
You can reach me at [email protected]
Ms. Effron
Hi my name is Michelle Effron and I teach third grade here at Hancock. I graduated from SDSU with a degree in Communicative Disorders, and a masters in Computers and Education. I am fluent in American Sign language. I have been teaching since 1990. I taught first grade for 20 years and third grade for 8 years. I love teaching third grade because the kids get my humor. I live in the area with my amazing daughter. When I am not teaching, I enjoy going to swap meets, swimming and it seems I'm always getting ready for the next holiday. I have found a great love for reptiles, particularly, Bearded Dragons, and I love bringing them into the classroom to share with my students.
You can reach me at [email protected]
Mrs. Ong
Hello, my name is Dawn Ong and I am a third grade teacher at Hancock. I earned my Master's Degree in Curriculum Design from the University of San Diego and have been a teacher in our district for the last 15 years. I have taught grades 1, 3, 4 and 5, but third grade is my absolute favorite. I love this age because kids are sponges for knowledge and passionate about learning.
When I am not teaching, I love spending time with my family. I am married to Michael Ong and we have two boys, Julius (10) and Tobias (7). We love being outside enjoying our amazing city. You will often find us swimming or paddleboarding at the beach, hiking or biking, or enjoying time with our sweet Labradoodle, Nala. We also love traveling and try to experience a new adventure every opportunity we get.
You can reach me at [email protected]
Mr. Steele
Welcome to Hancock! I am Jerry Steele, a third grade teacher with 31 years under my belt. After graduating from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky, I have been fortunate enough to have taught third graders in Ohio, Texas, and now California. I have even taught third graders for a few summers in South Korea. I love to travel and enjoy bringing the world to my students. I constantly challenge them to think deeply and carefully about this big world we share.
You can reach me at [email protected]