My name is Rita Schwartz and I teach third grade at West Salem Elementary School. I grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee and attended college at UW-La Crosse. After graduating with my teaching degree from UW-L, I substitute taught for one year and then was hired in Sparta, Wisconsin. I taught second grade at Maplewood Elementary School for 5 years. After our third child was born, I was fortunate enough to stay home to raise our children. After our youngest child was in kindergarten, I was hired as a long-term substitute in West Salem. As luck would have it, there was a third grade opening at WSES the following year, and I was hired for that position. Since then I have looped to fourth grade, taught second grade, and now feel like I am home again in third grade! :)
My husband and I live in West Salem and have 3 children, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. :) Our oldest daughter attended UW Madison where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Conservation Biology. Since then she has taken classes and trained in South Africa to be a safari guide, and has conducted animal research on a reserve. Our middle child graduated from UW Eau Claire where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences Disorders. After that, she received her Masters Degree in Glendale, AZ and was hired as a Speech and Language Pathologist in the School District of Mesa. Our youngest is attending college at UW Stout where he is studying Construction Management. I am the only Schwartz left in the West Salem School District, where I am very happy to be. :)