SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 | Page 7
Sauk Rapids-Rice new teachers who were hired and submitted answers to the newspaper prior to the deadline are featured.
Meet the
TEACHERS Dan Athman Academic support and support services specialist at the Sauk Rapids-Rice District Family: My wife, Sara, and daughters Evelyn, 3, and Charlotte, 3. Hometown: Sauk Rapids College: St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota Years of experience: Sixteen
Who has been your favorite educator? Mr. Martens valued investing time into building student relationships. If you could teach your students only one thing, what would it be? Be open to new ideas and experiences. School is a great time to learn who you are and grow into who you want to become.
Emmi Bigaouette First grade teacher at Mississippi Heights Elementary School Family: My dad, Tom Bigaouette, brother, Zach Bigaouette, sister, Abby Bigaouette, partner, Jared Kalal, and two Cats. Hometown: Stillwater College: St. Cloud State University Years of experience: This is my first year teaching. Who has been your favorite educator? My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Avery. She is such a caring person and always had her students’ best interest in mind. Mrs. Avery always provided a safe space to learn and grow. She taught me to believe in myself and showed me there was not just one path to education. If you could teach your students only one thing, what would it be? I would teach my students to show grace. We all make mistakes and can learn from those mistakes. So, rather than getting frustrated or upset with ourselves and others, it is important to show grace and help each other grow and learn.
Aimee Gilmore Special education teacher at Pleasantview Elementary School Family: My husband, Israel, and I and our daughter, Isabella, 4. Hometown: Grand Forks, North Dakota College: University of North Dakota and Emporia State University Years of experience: For the last 10 years, I was in Sartell, and my first four years were in Dodge City, Kansas. Who has been your favorite educator? After 14 years of teaching, I have met so many who have inspired me. I had great teachers through all of my schooling, and it so hard to pick one. I know so many friends, family and colleagues that are amazing and do so much for education. If you could teach your students only one thing, what would it be? Learn as much as you can every day. Keep pushing through even when the work gets hard because perseverance is the key to success. It is OK to fail and then get up and try again. So many students are afraid they cannot so they do not. I would teach them they can so they will learn things and do things even when hard. But more importantly, I would teach them they are loved and they matter. They are important, and their story is important.
Jasmine Kruschek Fourth grade teacher at Mississippi Heights Elementary School Family: I have one younger brother, two wonderful parents, and my boyfriend and I have three nephews and two new nieces or nephews on the way. Hometown: Pierz College: St. Cloud State University Years of experience: This will be my fifth year teaching. Who has been your favorite educator? My favorite educator was my first grade teacher, Mrs. Gray. She has been a great teacher, friend and mentor to me. She was so kind and welcoming, and she always made school such a fun experience for me. When I was in high school, I was a teacher’s aide in her classroom. That is when I fell in love with teaching children and decided I wanted to be an educator as well. If you could teach your students only one thing, what would it be? It would be compassion. Some of my favorite lessons to teach are life lessons. Being a compassionate and understanding person is key to success in school and future endeavors.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Hannah Paggen School readiness teacher at Hillside Early Childhood Family: My husband, Rusty, and I have two children, Easton, 7, and Broden, 3. I also have two dogs, Duke and Amber. Hometown: St. Stephen College: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Years of experience: Twelve Who has been your favorite educator? My Spanish teacher, Lucia Stamp, because she taught by having fun and using creativity. If you could teach your students only one thing, what would it be? To play and have fun because life is too short, so enjoy it.
SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 | Page 9
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Rachel Mehrwerth Third grade teacher at Mississippi Heights Elementary Family: I am married to my husband, Rob Mehrwerth. We have one child, Case, 2. Hometown: Little Falls College: I graduated from Southwest State University in Marshall. Years of experience: Five years of experience with children birth to 5 years old (daycare setting) and five years in an elementary school, (kindergarten and first grade). If you could teach your students only one thing, what would it be? It would be to always be yourself and be proud of it.
Kara Rogers Social worker at Pleasantview Elementary Family: My husband, Tony, and I have three kids, Jacie, 26, Sean, 19, and Danielle, 15. Hometown: Hinckley College: St. Cloud State University and Augsburg College Years of experience: Twenty-five years working with children and families, and 15 years as a school social worker. Who has been your favorite educator? Mrs. Becvar, high school teacher for speech and creative writing, was my favorite teacher because of her genuine care and compassion for her students. If you could teach your students only one thing, what would it be? Socialemotional learning: understanding and managing emotions in self and others, positive social interactions, effective communication, empathize with others, conflict resolution and managing stress. These skills are critical to help students be successful in relationships, increase their tolerance for new or challenging learning and build their capacity for self-regulation.
Have a great 2021-2022
SCHOOL YEAR!
Shauna Seaman Business and marketing teacher at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Family: My husband is Darin and our children are Landry, Brynn and Bailey. Hometown: Sauk Rapids College: University of Northern Iowa and Minnesota State University-Mankato Years of experience: Ten
Who has been your favorite educator? Mrs. Olson taught me science and math in middle school and high school. I did not like her until I was a senior. Then, I realized that she pushed me because she saw potential in me and knew I could give more effort to accomplish harder things. If you could teach your students only one thing, what would it be? Oh, only one? Learn to manage your money, or it will manage you.
Rhianna.Johnson@blowmolded.com
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