Greetings Families and Friends,

My name is Tom Gardner and I am excited to be the 4th grade teacher at Hamline Elementary this year. This will be my third year of teaching after two years as a special education teacher and 4th grade teacher at Galtier Elementary (St. Paul) the past two years. 

My career began as a paraprofessional at Eastern Heights Elementary in 2018 where I discovered a passion to work with children and help them reach their full potential. I went on to spend a year as a SUTR (St. Paul Urban Teaching Residency) resident where I earned a Master's degree in Elementary Education from the University of St. Thomas and co-taught in a classroom at St. Paul Music Academy. 

My focus as a classroom teacher is to create an academic environment that both welcomes and challenges students to be their best. We challenge each other to get out of our comfort zones, try new things, and have fun while learning. We achieve this in my classroom through everything from inquiry-based learning, to arts-integration experiences, and outdoor field trips throughout the year.

In my free time, I enjoy riding my bike, canoeing, running, playing basketball, and visiting awesome places with my family. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out via email at thomas.gardner@spps.org