Email Ms. Busarow at kate.busarow@manzanitacharterschool.com

Hello! 

 

My name is Ms. Busarow, and I’m very excited to be starting my 8th year at Manzanita and my 30th year of teaching!   

 

I grew up in the Midwest in a large musical family. Both of my parents were teachers, and my love for children and my desire to help them achieve their goals made teaching an easy choice for me. I attended Wittenberg University in Ohio and graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis with a B.A. in Elementary Education and a minor in Studio Art. My love for choral singing developed in college, where I was part of my dad’s choir at Wittenberg and continued with the Augsburg Choir.  That passion continues to this day. 

 

After graduation, I had the opportunity to help start a charter school in downtown Dayton, Ohio, where I taught K through 2nd grade for three years. Following that, I took a break from teaching to pursue another passion, art, and earned a degree in Architectural Drafting and Interior Space Planning. I always thought it would be fun to be one of the people I now watch on HGTV who completely renovates old homes; however, starting a family and moving to California made me put that dream on hold.  

 

After a few years at home with my kids, I was hired by Lompoc Unified, where I spent 19 years teaching 3rd-6th grades. This included a year as an itinerant art teacher for 4th and 5th graders in the district, which was so much fun!  Moving to Manzanita seven years ago was the best career decision I’ve ever made, and I’ve never regretted it. As we move into the next chapter with the addition of our Manzana Academy, I feel incredibly blessed to be teaching my three favorite subjects: Math, Art, and Choir. 

 

On a personal note, I am a proud mom of two grown children, Noah and Erin, who are out making the world a better place every day. I’m also a dog mom to three adorable rescues at home. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy hiking, biking, and exploring all that the Central Coast has to offer. My absolute favorite place to explore is Lake Tahoe, where we visit every summer. 

 

I’m looking forward to a fantastic year, and I can't wait to get to know my new scholars and their families! 

 

-Ms. Busarow