Teacher Spotlight - Monica Vaughn, Kindergarten | Schedule a Tour!

Hello! I am Monica Vaughn, and I am thrilled to be a Kindergarten teacher here at Playa Del Rey Elementary. I have been teaching for three years, and my favorite thing about Kindergarten is watching my students grow from the very beginning.

There is nothing like seeing a student’s excitement when they learn something new - whether it’s reading their first word, writing a sentence, or solving a math problem on their own. Those small moments, like their smiles and the pride in their voices when they say, “I did it!”, make every single day special.

I have the pleasure of teaching an accelerated group, and my favorite moment of the year is when we transition from Kindergarten to 1st-grade lessons.

Watching their confidence soar as they realize they can handle more challenging work is incredibly rewarding. They become so eager to participate and try new things, showing just how much they’ve learned and grown.

My advice for parents new to Kindergarten is to reinforce the skills taught at school with extra practice at home. When students see the same skills in both places, everything starts to click! That consistency and encouragement help them truly bloom into confident learners.

Outside of the classroom, I have a pretty unique background! I moved a lot growing up, and my family even lived on a goat farm! Yes, when we moved across the country, the goats came with us.

Today, I love spending time with my grown children, my grandkids, and my pets. You’ll often find me at the gym, visiting bookstores with my granddaughter, or enjoying any kind of family activity. Also, if you visit my classroom, you’ll notice a lot of Stitch - he’s my favorite character! 

We can't wait to help your child's love for learning shine at Playa Del Rey.

Kindergarten enrollment is now open! To learn more about the Kindergarten experience at Playa Del Rey, visit PlayaDelRey.GilbertSchools.net/Kindergarten.