Austen Collentine, Teacher

B.S. Elementary Education, Indiana University 

 

I have been a member of the Tamayo family as a third grade teacher since 2014.   I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the middle son of a Special Education teacher.  After completing my degree in Bloomington, Indiana, I traveled overseas to complete my student teaching in Ireland.   I officially began my teaching career in Las Vegas, Nevada as a teacher of a second and then fifth grade classroom.  After enjoying the heat and outdoors for eight years in Las Vegas, I chose to move closer to home and family.  I consider myself unbelievably fortunate to have found Tamayo and be able to make Chicago my home.  I am passionate about turning students on to the the joy and opportunities that reading can provide.  I enjoy coaching at Tamayo and dedicate my time to give students opportunities to pursue their interests or try something new.  Personally, I love to travel and have set foot in every state in the continental United States and have driven across the country on nine separate occasions catching as many live sporting events or concerts as possible along the way.