Welcome!

I am so excited about the 2022-2023 school year at Mance Park Middle School! This year I will be teaching Photojournalism and Yearbook to both 7th/8th grades. This will be my 16th year at MPMS and my 23rd year in Huntsville ISD. Photography is a passion of mine. Looking through the lens and freezing a moment in time is something that I enjoy. During the school year you will see me at concerts, games, plays, and other events taking photos for our yearbook program. I enjoy supporting our students in activities both inside and outside of the classroom. Each year, I participate personally in local photo contests and encourage my students to do the same.

Cool facts about me:
I have been married almost 19 years and I live in Huntsville. I have a dog named Lynny that I saved after he was thrown out of a car near our school. He is very spoiled and my fur baby. I do not have children of my own, but I have taught over 3000 students so far and I consider them my kids. Once a Petkovsek student, always a Petkovsek student. I love to read and I am a huge Harry Potter fan. It is important to me to be a lifelong learner, so I enjoy watching science and history programs on tv. In my spare time I enjoy trips to the beach, visiting with family, relaxing at home with a good book, traveling, taking photos of birds in my backyard, and crafting. My favorite subjects when I was in middle school were Texas History, Technology, and Choir. I am a graduate of Sam Houston State University, Eat 'Em Up Kats! 

Just a bit more about me:
Kids often ask what are your favorite things, so here are mine: Drink-Coke, Candy-Whatchamacallit, Day-Saturday, Color-Hornet Green & Hot Pink, Book-Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, Music-80s & Christian, Actor-James Earl Jones & Meryl Streep, Food-Crawfish & Mexican, and traveling to new places. My dream is to travel to Europe and take tons of photos.

Looking back over my last 22 years as a teacher in Huntsville ISD, I feel that we are really focusing on doing what is best for ALL students at MPMS. Building Champions each day, in every way. I encourage my students to have good attendance. You cannot learn if you are not here. I do offer tutorials where students can come in and work on assignments for my class. The time for tutorials will be Mondays from 3:45-4:30. Students should have rides pick them up at the front of the school.

I do communicate a lot through email. Parents can expect emails from me through our gradebook system. Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date. I also use Google Classroom and parents can view assignments and class events. Students are expected to READ their emails and check their Google Classroom daily.

You can reach me by email: spetkovsek@huntsville-isd.org

Phone: 936-435-6400 ext 4109

If you are looking to order a yearbook, you can order at www.balfour.com or at the school in the front office or room 109. They are $40 until the end of December. The yearbooks will be $45 in January until we sel out. Yearbooks arrive in May and we are only ordering 150 copies.

I look forward to a great year and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Shelley Petkovsek