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Ellie Kerbleski
Member Information
| Department(s): | Administration English |
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| Position: | Dean of Student Life, English |
Other Information
| Biography |
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Full-Circle Leadership in the Classroom and Beyond Tapping into her creativity to design lessons -- and encouraging students to discover their own -- is what makes Prep English teacher Ellie Kerbleski excited to come to campus each day. “Being able to design my own curriculum and create my own assignments helps me engage students in ways that are both meaningful and enjoyable for everyone involved,” she explains. One of her favorite projects, Book Bingo, blends student choice with creativity. Each fall, students select four books that fit a bingo grid and then complete four independent projects demonstrating their understanding of both the books and the concepts they’ve studied in class. “It’s a wonderful way for students to showcase their creativity, and I love seeing the unique and impressive work they produce,” Kerbleski shares. “I try to find new and exciting ways to help students connect with the trickier parts of English,” she adds. “Every student brings a different skillset, and I love discovering ways to showcase those talents.” Beyond the curriculum, Kerbleski helps her students recognize how their lessons extend beyond the classroom. “They may not remember which short stories they read in seventh grade, but they’ll remember how to communicate with people they disagree with, how to make their opinions heard, and how to think critically about the world around them,” she says. “They know how to ask questions, how to seek support, how to listen, and how to solve problems. These are the skills that will serve them not only in college or their careers but also in their relationships and personal growth.” An Albuquerque native, Kerbleski attended Prep for all seven years, beginning in sixth grade. She studied political and environmental communication at Saint Louis University and Northern Arizona University. She earned her master’s degree in political rhetoric and communication. After returning to Albuquerque during COVID, she began teaching and joined the Prep faculty in 2023. “What I find most rewarding about education is its range of opportunities,” she says. “It’s not just about teaching content; it’s about helping develop whole people.” As a Dean of Student Life, Kerbleski can be found all over campus on any given day. “I love checking in with students and seeing them in all types of different spaces working on various tasks and finding success with that,” she says. “I see collaboration in the Pitchfork. I see group work on the Quad. I see individuals sitting at picnic tables and working on essays and reading. I see classes going on different field trips and engaging with different experiences. I pop into classes and see everything from skits to Socratic seminars, to partner lab work, and everything in between. Each classroom is different, and yet there is a cohesion within our community.” When she’s not sparking literary enthusiasm in the classroom, Ms. Kerbleski is usually out hiking or curled up somewhere sunny with a book. Recently, she’s taken up baking bread and entering writing contests. Having once walked Prep’s halls as a student herself, Kerbleski now delights in helping the next generation find their place here. From the classroom to the Quad, she continues to nurture the same spirit of curiosity, creativity, and community that shaped her own experience.
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