New School Year Means New Teachers at Highland Park

The new school year means new teachers, and that is exciting. At Highland Park Elementary,one of the new teachers is Amber Pulley, who will be teaching fifth grade.

Pulley comes to Highland Park from a Title One school in Rose Park called Escalante Elementary and she’s excited to get involved in the Sugar House community.

“Highland Park has an excellent reputation as a school with exceptional parents who are helpful and supportive,” Pulley said.

Pulley worked in public relations for 10 years, but felt that her heart really was in helping kids. She volunteered helping children read and knew that she had to get into education, so she left her career and pursued her passion in education.

Besides her love for education, you can find Pulley outside enjoying Utah’s offerings.

“I love to try new things,” Pulley said, “I love to experience new cultures and places.”

With Pulley’s love for helping students and her drive to learn new things, Highland Park is getting an ace teacher who wants to help her students learn not only in the classroom but how to help in the community.

“My academics in the classroom are tied to the many service projects in which students engage in helping others,” Pulley said, “I try to foster a love of learning and serving others. I believe in creating goodness in the classroom and in the community.”

Another one of Highland Park’s new teachers is Lynette Peck, who will be teaching sixth grade and has a background in curriculum assessment. She worked for the Salt Lake City School District’s Curriculum and Assessment Lab at Ensign Elementary. She taught third and fourth graders there for 11 years, and before that taught in the ELP Program.

“I am looking forward to joining the Highland Park community because I have heard wonderful reports about the school’s reputation,” Peck said. “And I’ll have the opportunity to join a wonderful team of sixth-grade teachers.”

Peck actually isn’t unfamiliar with the area, she grew up in Salt Lake City and attended area schools. She understands the standards of what comes to the schools and has fond memories of being a part of the district.

“I loved my first school – Riley Elementary – freshly sharpened pencils, the smell of new crayons and great teachers. I also happen to be a member of the last graduating class from South High School,” Peck said.  

In her free time, Peck enjoys traveling, cooking, solving word and number puzzles and just like any teacher, she loves reading and teaching. With her love of teaching, Peck is excited to help get her new classroom to feel like a community where her students can share ideas and learn to work together.

Peck said, “I have come to love teaching writing and math problem-solving skills, and I look forward to instructing in these subject at Highland Park. Additionally, I love integrating technology into curriculum and giving students many opportunities to share their learning through a variety of methods.”

Other additions to Highland Park Elementary will be Jamie Zayach, a former ski instructor who will be a part-time resource teacher, and a new counselor, Mary Jane Moore, who is coming from Parkview to head up the Student Leadership Team. Judy Mayfield, who has been helping in the third- and fourth- grade operas, will be a music teacher.