Keeping Up With the Classroom: Mrs. Pjura, Part II

As the first semester of the 2025/2026 school year comes to a close, Gilbert Public Schools is checking in with some of its newest teachers to see how their students are growing and thriving in their classrooms. These educators are helping students build knowledge, confidence, and creativity while creating welcoming and collaborative classroom environments.

Christina Pjura, 4th Grade Teacher at Patterson Elementary
Reflecting on the semester, Christina Pjura says her favorite moments come from seeing students grow academically while also building strong relationships and confidence with one another. 

“They love working with their classmates at our giant vertical whiteboards,” she shared, noting that students are applying prior knowledge to new math concepts and discovering that their peers have valuable ideas to share. So far this year, Pjura says her students have achieved an 81% growth average on iReady diagnostics, even though they’re only halfway through the school year.

Looking ahead, Christina and her students are excited for Reading Around the World in February, as well as hands-on demonstrations, experiments, and STEM activities about weather and natural disasters after winter break. Her classroom encourages collaboration and confidence through daily morning meetings, partner and group work, and rotating partnerships so students learn to work with everyone in the class.