Hi, my name is Kawanza Basden. I am so excited to be your 2nd grade ELAR and Social Studies teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. This will be my 19th year teaching and my first year at James Patterson Elementary. My husband, son, and I enjoy traveling and watching the latest Marvel and DC movies in our spare time. I graduated from Wiley College in 2002 with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in History. I have master’s degrees in Curriculum & Instruction and Administration & Supervision from the University of Phoenix. This is going to be an awesome year!