My name is Christa "Mx. Kelley" Valencia and I have been a teacher of the Deaf and hard of hearing for 7 years. I graduated from Illinois State University with my BS in Education in 2014. This is my fourth year at Ray Elementary and with CPS. Before coming to CPS, I worked for ECHO Cooperative in South Holland as a fourth grade classroom teacher and for SPEED Cooperative in Richton Park as a high school classroom teacher. I have also taught pre-kindergarten and lower elementary in a Summer school setting, as well as adults with disabilities in a transition center. Given this wide range of age-level experience, I can truly say my heart is in Middle School!
I spent much of my time reading, creating, learning, watching, and hiking. I absolutely adore cats, as my students will tell you, and I have two cats of my own. I am currently learning how to speak Japanese and I am trying to become a better cook. I understand that life is a journey of mistakes and lessons, and that every day I am working to make better choices and learn from others. I am a huge fan of fantasy and fiction novels, but lately I have been reading more nonfiction books about peoples' experiences and the impacts of systems. When I feel nervous or upset, I like to go for a walk or a hike to help calm me down and clear my mind.