Meet the Staff

My name is Julianne Reddekopp and I have had the privilege of teaching students in Portland Public Schools for over twenty years. I taught first grade and kindergarten students at Humboldt School for ten years and this is my 16th year teaching kindergarten students here at Mary Rieke Elementary School. Kindergarten is such an exciting time for children, parents and teachers. For each student, an amazing amount of change and growth occurs in one short year. I treasure that I get to witness this wonderful transformation each year. 

I have always been a school person. Learning has been a lifelong passion. I was the kid who raised their hand all. the. time. I blurted the answers out in my enthusiasm. I relished homework. But becoming a teacher was not a straight line for me. I had graduated from college and lived some real life before I decided to go back to graduate school and make teaching and learning my full time profession. Once in the classroom, I felt like I had found my place.

 I teach because I love it and I’m so happy to be able to share that with your child and your family. Watching kids grow, academically and emotionally, is one of the most rewarding things I can imagine.

My name is Don McKie  and I am excited to be part of the Rieke community! I have two grown children who attended Portland Public Schools in SW Portland. I have taught grades K through 4th, and I have enjoyed each grade I have taught.  

I love teaching. I strive to create a place where each child feels they belong. I consider playfulness, joy, and laughter essential elements of a successful classroom community. I value curiosity, empowerment, and the ability to work through challenges. I work to create a caring community where students have the tools they need to solve problems, find answers, and express themselves. Each year is a journey we make together. By the end of the journey, my goal is that each student feels success.

My name is Maia Foley-Weintraub, and I am not only a teacher at Rieke, but the parent of a 2nd grader at Rieke. I grew up in NE Portland, and after high school I moved to San Diego where I got my BA degree at San Diego State University. In 2005 I moved back to Portland to pursue my MAT (Masters in Teaching) at Concordia University. 2025-2026 will be my 19th year teaching 3rd graders!

I consider myself lucky, because I have been a Rieke Rocket Crew Member since I started teaching. As an educator, I strive to inspire my students. I believe in the importance of building an environment for students in which they are encouraged to ask questions and share their opinions, and they feel safe doing so. I teach my students to value each other's differences, consider multiple perspectives, and make sure everyone's voice is heard.

"What is amazing about being a teacher is that it fits me like an old shoe.  My parents were both teachers, my sister is a teacher, my grandmother was a teacher...it's just in my DNA.

  When I work with students and hear them tell me and then show me that they understand what they are learning really reinforces their positive growth mindset.  My role in the classroom is to foster that love of learning on all levels so that my students come to class each day with a great attitude about school and all that it offers."

Why do I do the work I do? The main reason is because I love learning and I want to help the students in my class develop a lifelong love of learning. So much perspective and understanding can be gained through learning. Not only that, but learning is empowering. It can build confidence and lead to new opportunities.  I want my students to have the chance to see how big the world can be, and how many possibilities await them.

Another reason I became a teacher was to pass on my love of school. School can be a hard place for many students. We ask a lot of them and don’t always give much in return. I grew up in a community that valued education and created environments where I was challenged and engaged. Because of this, I found school to be a positive place.  The fact is, students have to be here, and my job is to make school an engaging, challenging and positive place so that students WANT to be here.  

My goal is for all students feel safe and empowered. Curiosity, perseverance and joy are essential to learning, so I do my best to foster these values in my interactions with students. As you get to know me, you'll find that I work to deeply understand students’ individual needs by building strong, positive relationships. Supporting children requires a team effort, and it is a privilege to be a member of team Rieke!

When I'm not at school, I enjoy family time with my wife, Katie and our amazing kids. Being a new dad is the coolest thing in the world. We like gardening, hiking, cooking and reading together.

I believe every student can learn to think critically, and display compassion towards others. This learning can take place if schools insure students consistently have their voice heard, their strengths celebrated, and their needs addressed. 
​I aim to make Portland Public Schools and our city in general an environment in which all people are included, valued, and successful. In specific, I would like to see traditionally marginalized students in my care achieve at the level of their more privileged peers. I also hope to instill a culture of reverence towards reading and independent thought. If all members of our community believe in themselves, enjoy learning, and take a scientific approach to answering life’s questions, there is no limit to the heights we can collectively achieve. 

I teach art to empower kids! From the very beginning of childhood development, kids learn they can change their world by making a mark on it.  Through visual art, I want to help children learn to express themselves and gain a deeper understanding of other perspectives and cultures. Our students learn valuable skills through the arts to become leaders, creative thinkers, collaborators and hard workers.  

When my students’ eyes light up with excitement as they enter the art room, when I witness them persevere through challenges during the creative process then experience fulfillment in seeing the awesome things they create; that sustains me as a teacher.

The arts are uniquely human. Experience and participation in the arts makes us more humane. Students can develop empathy and imagine a better world. For all these reasons, I am proud to work with our young people; our future.