Aileen Duncan

Aileen Duncan, AJA Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire, was obviously made for the job of caregiving and guiding. She grew up on a dairy farm in Canada with seven siblings and has seven children, and four grandchildren, of her own. Ms. Duncan, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University has been nurturing and teaching AJA kindergarten students for eleven years. Before joining the school she taught many of the same children in the JCAA's Early Childhood Program. Ms. Duncan loves teaching children and loves teaching in the Jewish Community. Last year, she was honored with an Excellence in Jewish Education Award bestowed on her by the Jewish Community Association. She feels being an educator has given her valuable lessons about herself and about what it means to be in a community of learners. She recognizes what a great responsibility she has in helping to shape young children's hearts and minds and enjoys the challenge of trying to help each child move forward no matter where they are when they enter her classroom. "Although," Ms. Duncan adds, "teaching academics is very important, teaching life lessons is essential to help inspire these young children who will have the opportunity to make a difference in our world."