Indian Hills Middle School is excited to celebrate Ms. Millenbach as she retires from her long career in education. Ms. Millenbach started her career in 1987 after she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Communication Science and Disorders.
After a yearlong student teaching experience in a kindergarten classroom, her first position as the classroom teacher was for 5th and 6th grade Social Studies. Ms. Millenbach taught at the same elementary school that she graduated from in her neighborhood. She was able to teach with the teachers that taught her!
Her next teaching position was in Laconia, New Hampshire.
After teaching 5th, 6th, and 2nd grades, Ms. Millenbach put her degree to good use by helping support students as a Speech Pathologist. As a Speech Pathologist, Ms. Millenbach help students meet their speaking and listening goals while also working with students’ executive functioning skills inside and outside of the classroom. Her time as a Speech Pathologist was in Maine.
After working in education in the classroom and as a specialized support staff member, Ms. Millenbach went back to school to pursue her graduate degree. Her sights were set on supporting students who were falling behind in their reading abilities. Earning a Masters of Education with a focus on reading, Ms. Millenbach was able to work for Pittsfield School District as a Reading teacher. Ms. Millenbach worked in the Kindergarten-12th grade district for two years, gaining valuable experience as a Reading teacher.
In 1994, Ms. Millenbach moved to the state of Utah to work at Indian Hills Middle School for the first time. Pulling from her Speech Pathology, elementary experiences, and Reading positions, Ms. Millenbach helped IHMS’s 8th grade students reach their reading goals throughout the course of 10 years! After working at IHMS for 10 years, Ms. Millenbach moved to a district position when Canyons was still a part of Jordan School District. Instead of a Reading teacher, Ms. Millenbach served as a Literacy Facilitator, helping to support multiple Reading teachers as they worked in the classroom with students.
From one district position to a new district position, Ms. Millenbach worked as an Achievement Coach in Canyons School District. This position serves at a specific school to help support the teachers of all grade levels and contents. Ms. Millenbach worked closely with Lone Peak Elementary teachers over the course of four years. From Lone Peak Elementary School, Ms. Millenbach moved to Sunrise Elementary School, and then to Willow Canyon Elementary School. Ms. Millenbach’s far-reaching impact was felt by students and teachers alike.
After working as an Achievement Coach, Ms. Millenbach moved back into the classroom and worked at East Sandy Elementary School as a 5th grade elementary teacher. In 2015, Ms. Millenbach came back to Indian Hills Middle School for the second time. She has supported students as they have transitioned from elementary school to middle school as a 6th grade English Language Arts teacher. Ms. Millenbach is retiring as a Warrior. Congratulations, Ms. Millenbach!
Throughout her many positions in education, Ms. Millenbach said, “[She] really enjoyed working one on one with students. [She] also loved when [she] was a Reading Specialist, as half my day was working with students and the other half was coaching/mentoring teachers.” When asked what she will be doing in retirement, she said, “I will be living in the lake house I spent every summer in since I was little. It is in Wolfeboro, NH. The town is known as the oldest summer resort in America. I plan to spend my time kayaking, swimming, paddle boarding, going to the ocean, hiking, skiing, cross country skiing, skating, doing lots of reading for fun, maybe take up golf and at some point.” To fill her days beyond recreation, she says, “Perhaps [I will] get a part time job in a local retail store, coffee shop, or the new recreation center the town will be building.” We wish you the best and will think of you each time we visit a beautiful East Coast lake!
