Welcome Back to School!

I hope you all had an amazing summer! We are going to have a great year together, and I cannot wait to get to know each and every one of you.

About Me

I am originally from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, but now live in South County. I graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Science Education. For the 2025–2026 school year, I will be teaching 8th grade Science. This is my fourth year teaching at Long International Middle School, and I am so excited to continue this journey.

Outside of school, I love reading mystery books and set a personal goal to read 20 books each year. I also enjoy learning Spanish through DuoLingo, playing tennis, and spending time with my sweet pug, Lola.

Mission Statement

I am committed to being a social advocate who is attentive to the needs of my community. My passion as an educator drives me to grow and improve each year. I strive to create a classroom environment built on mutual respect, where students feel encouraged to be open-minded, compassionate, and productive.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu means feeling connected to and accepted by a community. I chose to teach at Long International Middle School because I deeply value learning about other cultures and sharing my own. My mother immigrated from Iran as a child, arriving in the U.S. alone and unable to speak English. Thanks to the support of her community, she was welcomed, educated, and able to thrive. Because of her story, it is my priority to create a classroom where every student feels like they belong to something bigger than themselves.

Expectations for Success & Engagement

Students are expected to:

• Arrive to class on time

• Bring all daily materials (iPad fully charged)

• Participate actively in class

Homework: Any assignment not completed in class may become homework.

Late/Absent Work: Students may turn in missing work anytime within the current quarter (8 weeks). Once the quarter ends, I will no longer accept work from that grading period.

Communication

The best way to reach me during the school day is by email. If you would like to schedule a phone call or Zoom meeting, please email me so we can set up a time that works best.

📧 Email: gabriella.dorris@slps.org
📞 Phone: (636) 224-8862