Amanda Goossen teaches fourth grade at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic School. She teaches reading, language arts and social studies. Goossen loves working with her teaching partner, Angela Locher, and classroom assistants Charlene Mills and Theresa Mansour.

“We truly spend our days with our favorite people,” she notes. “St. Thomas is more than a job for me, it’s a home that I’m so glad our family has all been a part of.”

Goossen’s two children attended STA and she is in her eighth year of teaching there. Originally from California, Goossen and her family moved to the Valley in 2011.

Growing up, Goossen wanted to be a writer and a teacher. “I used to play school and make newspapers, film newscasts with my friends in the neighborhood and was constantly reading books,” she explains.

Goossen earned her degree in English with a specialty in education. She worked as a freelance writer and editor before she began teaching when her kids were school-age.

Reading continues to be a passion for Goossen.

“Books are a huge deal to me,” she says. “I’ve always been a big reader.” She is part of a community book club and she is happy to have the largest classroom library at her school. The school celebrates Read Across America with a all-day event each spring, and when students share that it is one of their favorite days, “it makes me really happy,” Goossen says.

Former student Mia nominated Goossen, and still enjoys visiting her old classroom. “She understands what students like, has an awesome library, and is fun to be around,” Mia writes.

Goossen remains a welcoming and positive influence on her current and past pupils.

“I like to tell students that if they work hard and do their best, they can truly go after their dreams,” Goossen advises. “I also tell students that community service is a key part of life.” 

She and her family promote and practice that value. They started Good Soles Shoe Drive eight years ago. Eleven STA student volunteers helped with the drive this year, and Good Soles collected 1,254 shoes for a back-to-school drive for Child Crisis Arizona.