Most are aware that Mr. Longenberger and his wife had a baby at the beginning of the summer. Mr. L. has chosen to take the opportunity to spend the first quarter of school with his new baby boy, Graham, as this will be a wonderful opportunity for him to be with his family and spend quality time that can never be returned.
While Mr. Longenberger is on paternity leave, Mr. Chris Banks will assume the classroom teacher responsibilities in the interim. Mr. Banks is actually part of the Jefferson Spartan Family, having previously worked in the Functional Skills class here. His love for children and the field of education is of the highest caliber. Mr. Banks will teach the third section of 3rd grade from August 15th through Parent Teacher Conferences in October, after which Mr. Longenberger will return.
Mr. Banks earned a Bachelors in Sport Psychology and Sociology from Grace College. He has been working in the education field for around five years as a Specialized Paraprofessional and Behavioral Coach at Jefferson and WCHS. He currently works for Lake City Gymnastics as a team coach and tumbling instructor. Cheer and gymnastics coaching have been a huge hobby of Chris’s since college, where he was a cheerleader. Outside of that, he enjoys all things outdoors, like fishing and camping!
Mr. Banks states enthusiastically, "I love my family more than anything!" His wife Victoria works for Cardinal Services and shows him daily what it means to be a compassionate and hardworking leader. He also says that his grandparents raised him to be the person that he is today, and that he is incredibly thankful for everything they’ve done!
Mr. Banks believes that educators have the privilege of watching and developing the next generation of leaders, and having a hand in that culture and development is why he enjoys education so much.
Welcome [back], Mr. Banks!
(Photo provided.)