Ms. Joanne Fitch is entering her 18th year teaching at Walnut Grove.  She grew up in Chicago and relocated after college to Texas.  She taught for 10 years in Arlington, Texas before moving to Williamson County.  She has taught kindergarten at Walnut Grove for 17 years, looping with her class one year to first grade.

In her 28 year teaching career, Ms. Fitch has taught every elementary grade but third.  Her passion for early literacy keeps her most interested in the very youngest students and how they learn to read and write.

Ms. Fitch’s daughter, Jeanne, attended Walnut Grove from kindergarten through 5^th grade and graduated from The Harpeth Hall School in Nashville.  Jeanne graduated from Belmont University this past May with a degree in Business Administration.  She plans to attend graduate school next year and seek an advanced degree in Business and Environmental Studies.

Ms. Fitch lives in an old stone cottage with her yellow lab, Bella, and cat Lil’ Bit.  Most of her spare time is spent gardening, but she also enjoys reading, kayaking, and just being outdoors.