Hello! I hope that all of you had an amazing Summer! My name is Joe Plesser, and I will be your child’s Second Grade teacher. I am eager to get to know you and your child, and I look forward to a great year with them. We have many exciting events already planned to start the new year!

I am beginning my sixteenth year of teaching in the New Albany - Plain Local School District, and I feel very fortunate to be part of such a wonderful school community. I was born in Gahanna, Ohio, and I have lived there all of my life. I attended The Ohio State University, where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. I worked in the corporate environment for about six years before deciding that what I really wanted to do was work with children. I received my teaching license and Master's degree from Ashland University soon after.

When I am not at school, I’m at home with my wife Lisa and two of our three kids, Nik and Kyndall, who both attend Gahanna Lincoln High School. We also have a daughter, Taylor, who is a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. When I’m not working on the newest home improvement project, I love to play golf, play my drums, and travel whenever possible.

Teaching has been an absolute joy! Watching the kids grow physically, mentally, and emotionally is such an eye-opening experience. Through all of these experiences, I have learned that students need to be recognized not only as a classroom of learners but also as individual learners in order to succeed.

I feel that building a community of learners who know, appreciate, and care about one another is a positive goal that will promote and enrich the learning experiences of each of us. In addition, it is important to focus on the student's interests and personal experiences in order to relate educational material to their lives. One of my continuous long-term goals focuses on putting my effort into creating a classroom that is enjoyable and conducive to learning.

I truly look forward to meeting all of you, and I can't wait for the new year to begin!