Judy Verplanke
Elementary School Teacher
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, University of Wyoming; Endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education, University of Wyoming
Judy Verplanke started teaching in 1990 and joined Wyoming Connections Academy in 2020. She teaches both kindergarten and first grade.
Why I Became a Teacher
I always wanted to be a teacher. I was the girl who made her little sister play school and, of course, I was the teacher. I worked in some other professions but have always come back to teaching. It’s what I love and makes my heart happy.
When the pandemic happened, I started working online and quickly realized I was effective and enjoyed my time in a virtual environment. So, here I am at Wyoming Connections Academy! I can happily share that this has been the best job ever. I’m blessed to be a part of this school, working with our students and families.
What makes teaching here special is working hand in hand with the families and students toward a common educational goal. Our families are very dedicated to their children and want to be an integral part of their student’s learning and success.
The Online School Experience
My favorite thing about teaching here is working with both the students and their families. It’s rewarding to support families as they pursue their education goals. I feel a strong sense of community and support. My second favorite aspect of teaching here is dancing and singing during online LiveLesson® sessions with students and parents. We have a ton of fun learning to read, write, and do arithmetic.
Students here learn they can be successful in a virtual learning environment. This school encourages students to become independent learners who direct their own areas of interest. Our students experience a full science and social studies curriculum, in addition to their other core courses starting in kindergarten.
“Students at Wyoming Connections Academy learn in a safe, supportive, low-distraction environment.”
— Ms. Verplanke
My Interests
I love spending time with my children doing various activities. I have two sons and two daughters. We enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing, camping, hiking, snow skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, and some horseback riding. My trusty sidekick is my yellow lab, Odin. We also have two cats and two horses. In between all that fun, I’m working to get back to running a half marathon or two.