Biography

A former student of St. Matthew's (Go Falcons!), Ms. Van Hook is thrilled to be a part of the third grade team! Ms. Van Hook is a Palisades native and she holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and Art History from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. After college, Ms. Van Hook stayed in D.C. and participated in Center for Inspired Teaching's teacher certification program. While teaching at a D.C. public school, Ms. Van Hook obtained her Masters in Elementary Education from Trinity Washington University. Outside of school, Ms. Van Hook loves to hike, go to the beach, and read. Ms. Van Hook's teaching philosophy can be summed up in a quote by William Butler Yeats: "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."