Teacher Tuesday 23: Get to Know Ms. Zee! 5th grade Math Teacher at Caliber Beta Academy.

Ms. Zenobia Ritter is the newest member of our Caliber Beta Academy Team. She is teaching 5th Grade Math and attacking standards and SBAC prep day in and day out. We want to take this #TeacherTuesday to get to know our newest member! 

"Zenobia has hit the ground running.  She is working hard to get to know students, create meaningful and engaging lessons, and get kids prepared and confident for the SBAC math test. She has an easy style with our scholars and calmly encourages them to do their best while holding them to a high standard."

Learn all about Zenobia! 

I am originally from Columbia, S.C. I graduated from Benedict College in 2000 with a B.S degree in Education and attained my Masters in March 2016 from Capella University in Higher Learning - Adult Education. I have lived in a number of states and I have finally found my place in Oakland, CA. I am done moving! 

I was attracted to Caliber schools when I first subbed at ChangeMakers Academy in Vallejo. I was highly impressed with the students and I wanted to learn more about Caliber as an organization. I was fortunate to become a part of the Beta Team and I absolutely love the staff but more so the students. The students are so sweet and they won me over with their pleasantries and willingness to learn. They accepted me with open arms which we know is very hard for children to do when in the midst of change. I love children; teaching gives me life and something to look forward to. Since Kindergarten I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I come from a very large family of teachers on both sides of my family.

My favorite subject growing up was ELA and choir and band (marching, jazz and concert). My favorite chocolate treats are Ferroro Rocher and Snickers candy bar. If I could go on a dream vacation I would choose to go to the Bahamas, United Arab Emirates and/or Germany. 

My favorite things about the Bay area are the cultural diversity and welcoming of difference, the people, the weather, the food, the arts and the sheer beauty of the Bay as a whole. It is so beautiful here. My big secret is - In high school I was accepted to Berkeley but my parents (my dad specifically) didn't want his daughter on the other side of the country. So.... it took me a little over 20 years to move to where I should have been all along! Last summer I turned 40 and vowed to never live in a place I didn't like ever again! 

Fun Facts about me - I sing, play saxophone (a little rusty but can still read music), love creative writing, am a great dancer, love to travel, in 2005 tried out for American Idol, I'm an adventurer/free spirit and love trying new things. I want to put a band together! My stage name is LadyZee! 

Welcome, Zenobia!