Get to Know Me

Hi there, my name is Claire Cullen, I am originally from Burlington, Kentucky and grew up with my Mom, Dad, sister, Cate and brother, Noah. We grew up extremely close and loved to be outside, jumping on our trampoline, exploring the woods, playing dolls, or playing school (of course). After I graduated from High School, I moved to go to the University of Kentucky for college, I have absolute loved my last five years in Lexington. I love the rich culture and community in Lexington and I can’t think of a better way to experience the community than through being in the schools with the children. After my first year teaching, and a lot of thought I have decided that home is truly where the heart is. I will be moving back to Northern Kentucky in the summer of 2025 and I couldn’t be more excited to be back within a few minutes from my family and childhood friends. Outside of school, I love being outside, going to Orange Theory, dancing, cooking, spending time with my friends, and cheering on the Cincinnati Bengals! I am elated to be headed back into the classroom as a second year teacher. I have truly learned more this year than I ever thought I would and I just keep learning how to be a better teacher everyday. I cannot wait to use what I have learned this year in my second year to make it for an even more remarkable!

Why Teaching?

For me, it has always been teaching, but I didn’t always know it. Coming into college I was a Biology major and hoped to become an occupational therapist. When I talked to people about my future career choice, I would always say “This gives me the ability to still be like a teacher and work with kids.” One day after I said that statement, I wondered why am I choosing a career because it’s like being a teacher, why not just become a teacher? After that point, I talked to my family and decided to follow my dreams of becoming a teacher because I knew it was what I was meant to do. I love to see growth and light in my students. I strive to be the person that is there for them and believes in them when no one else does.

My First Year in the Classroom

After graduating in August of 2024, I dove into my first year of teaching just a week after finishing summer student teaching session through the University of Kentucky. To say it was a quick turn around would be an understatement. I had such a unique experience with summer student teaching and so much hands on teaching time through that program that I went into my first year extremely confident. I accepted a first grade position at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary in Lexington, Kentucky. During the interview process, I felt such a sense of home and belonging in MQHR and although it was never the plan to work in a private school, it felt like the right fit for me! I have had such a wonderful first year here and I have learned so much about myself, my teaching style, classroom management, and the teacher I want to be this year. We have had wonderful days together, and we have had hard days but the beauty of it is that we are all learning together. I love that the growth within a classroom can be seen in so many ways, physically the kids are growing, but daily we grow in love and respect for each other, all while learning new things everyday. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had with MQHR and was so blessed to be welcomed with open arms into the community here. I am looking for anther school that feels like a community within itself that Mary Queen has given me.