Meet the Fourth Grade Teachers

Kaitlin Lander

I grew up in Toms River, New Jersey, where I spent Mrs. Landermy summers at the beach! I went to college at Penn State University at University Park where I grew to love college football--We Are! I had my first teaching experience in Anne Arundel County where I spent 5 years teaching third grade and 5 years teaching fourth grade. I also received my master’s degree from McDaniel College during that time. After spending some time in Annapolis I lived in Baltimore City and met my husband, Peter, who I married during the summer of 2016. We live in Baltimore County with my two stepchildren (Luke & Mila) and our daughters (Clara & Georgia). We love the beach so we spend our summers visiting Bethany Beach and the Jersey Shore. I was lucky to start working at Timonium Elementary during the 2016-17 school year!

Karen Rand

Mrs. RandAfter graduating from Saint Francis University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, I initially entered the corporate world.   I worked in Human Resources at FILA USA Inc., and Employee Benefits Consulting for ten years.  I realized that something was missing when I took a position in business at Severn School in Annapolis.  After playing two collegiate sports at Saint Francis, I really wanted to stay involved in sports, so I began coaching high school soccer, and basketball at Severn School.   My time there enabled me to see that I really enjoyed teaching children, and that my heart was really in the field of education.   In 2002, I got a Master of Arts in Teaching, from Towson University, with a specialty in Elementary Education.   In 2003, I started teaching sixth, seventh and eighth grade Reading at Sparrows Point Middle School, and coaching the Girls high school soccer and softball teams at Sparrows Point High School.  The great part about Sparrows Point was that the Middle School is attached to the high school, so I could teach my middle school students and then see them again as athletes when they got to high school.

In 2008, I began teaching at TES, and quickly realized how much I
love teaching fourth grade.  I was fortunate enough to be able to specialize in teaching my favorite subject, Math.   It is amazing to watch the growing minds of our students here as they grow academically.  I am determined to see them master their basic facts, and successfully work through all of our new skills together.  I can sum up the culture of my class room in one word:  “TEAM.”  I encourage students to work together as we conquer the many challenges of the fourth grade curriculum.

Lisa Sauerwald

Ms. SauerwaldHello!  My name is Lisa Sauerwald and I am honored to be a teacher here at Timonium Elementary!  I have wanted to be a teacher my entire life!  My dream came true when I was hired at TES in November 2011! 

I grew up in Sparrows Point, Maryland where I am still active in the community.  In addition to teaching in the classroom, I am a coach on the field.   I have been a coach to a girl’s recreational lacrosse team since 2013.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Liberal Arts and Technology from Stevenson University.  I also earned my Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Loyola University.

My reason for teaching is simple:  light-bulb moments!  A light-bulb moment is the exact moment a child understands a concept and it is reflected in their face!  That is what I teach for.  There is nothing more rewarding in life than to see a child’s reaction when that light turns on! 

My art teacher in middle school really impacted my life as a student and remains an influence of how I want my classroom environment to feel.  My room is a Safe Room.  I want every student to feel safe from being wrong, from being left out, from making mistakes, from being singled out, from feeling pressured, etc.

I know our classroom will be a bright one!  Full of light-bulb moments!