LH Teacher Appreciation 2024

LH Staff

May 6, 2024

LH TEACHER APPRECIATION 2024

Ms. Wehr by Juliette Genin

Before my junior year at City High I was living in France and never had a culinary class before. It’s always good to try new things and take classes that we would have never expected to take before.

Walking into room 3108, I didn’t know what to expect of first trimester. But I really loved my culinary class, and signed up for Culinary 1, 2 and 3 in the same year. I love cooking and baking, and Ms. Wehr brings a positive and funny vibe.

I love how Ms. Wehr teaches her class. She is one of the nicest teachers I ever had in my entire time at school. She is always here to explain to us if we don’t understand something. My culinary class might be my favorite one. I’m sure to laugh and learn new things here, the different cuisines in the world, cooking techniques… I’m trying new things that I have never made before. Ms. Wehr is always here to help us. What I like the most in this class might be the fact that we can make whatever we want sometimes, like a mystery basket when we have some ingredients, we used to have 7 up, fruit canned and a cake box mix. Or when we needed to make chicken or sushi; we could choose different seasonings to put in our food.

The favorite thing that we made might be the cupcake competition in Culinary 1, we had so much fun and a lot of freedom, we just needed to make “Halloween cupcakes”. We made “monster cupcakes” with a chocolate base and a green frosting flavored white chocolate (at least we tried to). The teacher was here to give us advice on what would work the best. We won the competition and had so much fun! I love how Ms. Wehr is involved in her class and tries to make different things.

Ms. Barnard by Avery Nace

Ms. Barnard’s class is a class I look forward to every day. I never loved science, but Mrs. Barnard's teaching method makes me feel like I'm not just learning, but conversing with her and my classmates. She understands our perspective of sitting in the classroom all day and how draining that can be. That's why she lets us interact with other people and have fun while learning what we need to know.

Ms. Barnard's teaching is extremely effective, she created an engaging learning environment and is willing to help or explain something to you if you don't get it. As long as we are doing our work she gives us lots of freedom in what we do when we are done, and where we do our work. For example, picking our seats or doing our work outside. That helps me be motivated to get my work done because I know when I'm done I will get to do whatever else I want.

Ms. Barnard always talks about seeing the differences between a kid when they are a freshman and senior because she teaches both. And she loves seeing the changes and maturity that they gain through the years. One story came to mind when Ms. Barnard thought of this.

“Well, one of the best parts about teaching ninth grade is that you see the growth, both physical and not. But I did have a student as a ninth grader who would crawl on the ground and make weird noises and did a lot of silly things. Now I have them as a senior, and their maturity is just through the roof. They’re organized, their academic skills are phenomenal and they have grown up and become a different person.”

Ms. Barr and Mr. Clevenger by Kenley Ripka

Click here to listen to an audio version of this story

When students walk into English 10 in Room 1307, the first thing they see is a whiteboard with a question of the day. These questions, which are usually about which of two or more options students prefer, show the teachers’ commitment to making the start of class fun. Teachers is plural, because this class is co-taught by two great teachers, Ms. Barr and Mr. Clevenger. The question of the day was started by a 5th period student, but it was made part of every class by Mr. Clevenger, showing his commitment to learning from his students as a new teacher.

When class actually starts, it almost always begins with some sort of game. For example, in one game, one student looks at an image on the computer made out of shapes and they describe it for others to draw. The accuracy of their classmates’ drawings depends on how well the student describes the image. But students don’t just do the same few things every day - Ms. Barr actively searches out new things for students to do at the start of class, such as one she recently found where the class can guess a movie based on images of it quickly shown for a few seconds. These games not only make students look forward to class, but allow students to socialize with classmates more than they would without them.

Even in terms of actual learning, Ms. Barr and Mr. Clevenger often do things to make it fun for students. They have the class do various review activities to make sure they know the topics being studied. They frequently do online review games like Kahoot and Blooket that both help students review the material (such as vocab words and grammar rules) and enjoy the class. Students even have extra incentive to do good in these games, as the top places get candy for winning.

These two teachers make English the best part of a school day for me and many others. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to be a part of their class this year.

Mr. Fraga by Ellie Fraga

Walking into the guidance office is always a welcoming experience. As I walk in I'm immediately greeted by friendly smiles. I make my way to the back and walk into my favorite counselor's office, Ben Fraga’s, my Dad’s. Even though Mr. Fraga isn’t my official counselor, he does everything for me. When I needed my schedule changed so that I could have lunch with my friends, he changed it. When I wanted my seventh period open so that I could have extra time to hit after school, he changed it.

Not only is he very helpful to me, he also helps my friends and informs them about different schedule options. He explains what classes we need to take and what ones we should. He gives personal recommendations and guidance on what classes to take based on our potential career paths.

Mr. Fraga is very nonchalant, when I walk through the hallways I light up at the familiar face of my dad. I smile and wave, “Hi Dad!” He just barely looks up and nods his head at me. He says its to not embarrass me but really its because hes so calm.

I love having my dad work at the school. Even though I don’t see him a lot in the building its the little things about it that make it so amazing. I appreciate not having to use a locker, and instead putting my stuff in his office. If I need medicine or water I always have a place to go, a second home.

Mrs. Fettweis by Kaitlin Loria

I am sitting in my 7th period class in a cold dark wood seat with the desk attached to it. My head is in my hands, barely able to keep my eyes open from the basketball game the night before. Students chatter in the background as I think to myself, “I have to lock in for this period.” The bell rings and Mrs. Fettweis struts into the classroom, her tall heeled boots clicking on the floor as the large broad door slams behind her. She has always has such an enthusiastic voice, and she always sounds so cheerful and so happy. I make eye contact with her as she can clearly tell how tired I am from my long night last night and the long day I had. She is doing her normal chatting so the class just talking about our days and all of a sudden she says, “Let's hear a round of applause for our City High Girls Basketball team for the big win last night and our amazing player here, Kaitlin Loria!”

As she said that, she did her little foot kick she always does when she is excited. In that moment I felt seen from her, I felt like she had just woken me up and she didn’t even know. That is one of the many reasons why I love her so much because she is always in such a good mood and always so happy and enthusiastic about seeing us.

Mrs. Fettweis has always been one of my biggests fans. She is always talking about my games with me and the class. She was at a lot of my volleyball games and my basketball games and when she couldn’t make it she went out of her way just to watch it on TV. For example she watched the West High game on TV because she wasn't able to make it to the games and every time she heard my name or I popped up on the screen she would yell to her husband, “I know her! She’s my student!”

Fettweis is always caring about all of the students around her and cares about every single one of them equally. She is always checking in on us and is always making sure everyone has the best time in her room. She also helps kids become more comfortable in her room by connecting with them on a deeper level than just a student and a teacher. This is why she is the best teacher in the world and this is why she is always loved by every student even if they don’t have her.

Ms. Basile by Hayden Dyson

Her face turns red and tears slowly roll down her laughing face - this is an occurrence you might see a lot in Ms. Basile’s classroom. Walking into class and seeing a bright warm smile on Ms. Basile’s face and her pulling me into a warm hug is another thing that happens tons. Looking directly into their eyes while smiling and nodding was Ms. Basile when talking to a student, whether it’s a student I have never heard talk or the class clown. When I'm in Ms. Basile’s classroom I feel welcomed and there is a sense of belonging. She makes everyone feel important and like their opinion matters, and her teaching is amazing

When Ms. Basile teaches she is passionate and puts emotion into her teaching. She might yell something at the top of her lungs, earning weird looks from her students, but she is always passionate about what she is teaching. She also makes it fun to learn and makes it interactive. One way she does this is by having volunteers teach the lesson for her and call on other students. She has us make posters and turn things, that I would normally consider boring English work, into an art project.

Altogether Ms. Basile is a teacher unlike any other I have ever had. She makes me feel welcome in her classroom and proud of the work I do. She makes the work fun and her class feels safe. I think everyone should have a teacher like Ms. Basile at some point in her life.

Mrs. Dickson by Cooper Hamilton

Even from the end of the hallway on the third floor with her door closed, the sounds of giggling students and a cackling Mrs. Dickson can be heard. There is never a dull moment in room 3310 when Mrs. Dickson’s smile is lighting up the room. As a teacher, she is able to connect specially with every student. She knows how to match someone’s energy and make jokes to cheer someone up. But above all things, Mrs. Dickson is a total school mom.

Between her interactive in-class lectures and her canvas page that is pact full of resources, Judith Dickson only wants the best for her students, but she works as hard as she can to push her students to participate and prepare them for a fulfilling life ahead of them. Even when the group she is teaching doesn’t have motivation, she still tries her best to get them to a place where they feel comfortable enough to ask her questions if they are struggling.

As her AP World History students approach the upcoming AP test, she continues to provide outside resources, even when no one uses them. Mrs. Dickson dedicates a section of her time to giving the students the information they will see on the test and provides practice tests for the students to use as extra practice.

Mr. Walker by Melody Ross

Melody Ross and Matt Walker taking a selfie. (Melody Ross)

Students gradually file into class, very chatty as always. One by one they put their phones in the Pocket for attendance as they wait for Mr. Walker to arrive. He strides into the room, a jolly grin spread across his face, talking with a student or two as the seconds tick down till the third hour bell. When it rings, Mr. Walker sets down his steaming hot cup of coffee, sits down at the piano, and plays an ascending chord. Within a few moments, all the chatter dies down, and the attention is on Mr. Walker as he says a line that should be very well known by Advanced Treble Ensemble students: “Everyone standing! Here we go!”

Over the course of my time in Mr. Walker’s class, I have found that he brings with his undeniable joy of teaching a certain buzzy energy that rubs off easily on others. And if that isn’t enough to immediately make others happy, Mr. Walker always tries to work some sense of fun into his lessons, whether it be with March Madness/April Anarchy, or the Singer of the Week award, or the leaderboard that student teams compete to get to the top of using their skills and communication, with the reward of donuts and other enticing gifts.

And yet for a student like me, I only get to be with him for one year, and I can’t deny that he has made the most of every moment. In return, I have been greatly enjoying all of the singing and playing games that we get to do, and all the concerts that we get to attend, as well as the show choir group that he runs, Charisma. Mr. Walker has a way of connecting with his students on a level that not many teachers can achieve. He’s fun, he’s social, and always very happy. He makes learning music enjoyable and manageable, taking everything one step at a time and going at the students’ pace. He’s made choir one of my favorite classes, and I think I’m going to appreciate it until it’s over.

Mr. Burkle by George Karr

The sound of an alarm pierces the quiet morning, the clock glows red with thick red bars that read 5:00. Mr. Burkle gets out of bed and is preparing for his daily bike ride.

From teaching hundreds of kids about the complexity of the United States Government to a notorious and rigorous routine for his daily bike rides in the silent hours of the morning, Mr. Burkle does it all. The style of AP Government that is taught in room 3312 is unique. Whether it be an elaborate what-if question about the freedom of the press or the rights of the accused, there is always a precise answer that matches the uniquely strange question presented.

To say that Mr. Burkle has a unique teaching style is a statement that any member of his class would have to agree with, yet this style of metaphors, deranged scenarios, next to unbelievable stories about “his friend” that happened to do some outrageous prank and the rigorous uniformity of the dreaded boring required Supreme Court cases that are crucial to our nation’s history and the functionality of US Government today, there never seems to be a dull moment in Mr. Burkle’s class.

While Burkle may have a unique teaching style what is important is the ability to be a good teacher. When good qualities of a teacher come to mind, many things could be considered a “good quality” but these may differ from person to person as well. Some may say that a good teacher is someone who is engaging and passionate about what they teach. But the most important thing in teaching is the ability to have an impact on the students who pass through the door every year. While learning a subject is important, one job of teachers that is often overlooked is the ability to have a lasting impact on students and prepare them for the future. By teaching about how our political system functions and explaining it in a bite-sized way that is easily understood, Burkle is accomplishing this. If there is one thing that has been taught to his students, it is the power of one voice. In a political system such as our own, the power of one voice can be very influential and Burkle heavily emphasizes this. Throughout his teachings, he includes important life advice that prepares students for the future which is one of the most important duties of a teacher. Teachers are not just meant to teach about one individual subject they are meant to teach us for life ahead. Mr. Burkle does this daily and is one major part of what makes our school so special.

Ms. Felker by Rosemary Clark

Walking into 7th period can feel taxing. It’s the last period of the day, everyone is ready to be done, the energy is at an all time low, but that’s not the story for Ms. Felker’s 7th period Biology class. Walking in, you see Ms. Felker, microphone in hand, going around interviewing students on what they are doing to celebrate this Earth Day. As the bell rings to begin class, the interviews get taken outside, the class takes some time to enjoy nature and ask people as they pass what they are doing in their lives to celebrate this earth day. These unpredictable interviews got some funny responses and many didn't know it was Earth Day at all. Ms. Felker does something everyday to get students off their devices and bring the energy up to get learning. Whether it’s a puzzle, short walk, or conversation, Ms. Felker gets the class engaged and thinking.

Though I had always enjoyed science I wasn’t particularly looking forward to Biology. Sophomore year I decided to double up on Chemistry and Biology. My mindset going into Biology was that I just needed to get it out of the way, as Chemistry was what I was excited for. I was sure Biology was just a class of memorizing boring systems, and it just didn’t peak my interest, but Ms. Felker changed that. She has excitement and passion about what she’s teaching and it has rubbed off on me. In Biology, Ms. Felker helped me make connections I didn’t understand before. Bio was also more challenging than I was expecting but I enjoy that aspect. Ms. Felker encourages you to come to your own conclusions to challenge your understanding. I’ve found Biology so fascinating this year that I’ve decided to sign up for AP Biology for my junior year, something I would've never suspected for myself just this prior summer. Ms. Felker makes her classroom very welcoming for students to ask any questions. Students can easily join into the conversation. Ms. Felker sometimes needs to cut herself from going too in-depth but her eagerness and ability to go so in-depth made me interested in taking AP Biology to know more about all the intricate details that are possible.

Ms. Felker makes her lessons interactive. She incorporates things like microscopes, models, and labs into her lessons. Using these tools can actually be really fun, like when we got to build DNA models. Ms. Felker does a good job at pushing students to problem solve but also making sure they were on the right track. We started off just guessing what pieces went together but then we got more hints till the models looked correct. This really helped me learn the structure of DNA and get a more visual idea of what we were learning. One of my favorite labs is when we collected data on the dive response. For this lab one student in each group had to put their face in pans of water and hold their breath as we counted their heartbeat. Not only was this amusing but also I got to see the system working from the data we took. When we get real data or images of what I'm learning it makes me feel accomplished and interested in what we are learning. Ms. Felker makes sure each of her students get the opportunity to gets involved and learning during the dive response lab. If the class is short on volunteers, Ms. Felker is quick to jump in and be a the subject for the lab. Ms. Felker’s excitement at what she’s teaching and her ability to push students to make their own connections makes her classroom entertaining and educational.

Mr. Sheldon by Fisher Fitzpatrick

Mr. Sheldon walks into class with a big metal container. Everybody looks around thinking Mr. Sheldon just had a weird water bottle. But then he pulls out marshmallows. I'm hoping we get to eat them and people are licking their lips. Mr. Sheldon starts pouring a liquid out of the liquid: liquid nitrogen. We are wondering what he has planned with the marshmallows now, and to our surprise, he put them in the liquid. We all line up to try these marshmallows, everybody crunching and complaining that they are too cold for their teeth.

Mr. Sheldon is always doing fun stuff like this. Most people dread going to chemistry but not Mr. Sheldon's students. He makes students excited and ready for class each and every day. He always has fun things planned like lab experiments. My favorite is when we got a super hot can and then put it in water. The can was completely crushed. These are just some examples of how hard Mr. Sheldon works to make class enjoyable.

Mrs. Smith by Skye Fitzpatrick

If I were asked about my favorite class I've taken so far, I would have to think about it. I've taken many classes I've enjoyed, but this one stands out. Science has always been a struggle for me, but ever since taking Mrs. Smith's class, I have enjoyed walking into science class again. Fourth period has now become the highlight of my school day, as Mrs. Smith always has fun experiments for us, and makes our learning interactive. I now not only understand chemistry but enjoy the class as well. Mrs. Smith makes it easy for me to learn because I feel like I can connect to her on a personal level as she's always making jokes in class, and roping in fun things to talk about at the beginning of the class.

I met Mrs. Smith on the first day of sophomore year. I was scared for what was to come in chemistry, as bio was not something that I excelled at. But Mrs. Smith made me feel right at home. As she is also an Earth and Space teacher; many kids in my class had her previously. This makes her class feel home-like as she is so welcoming. She is always trying to connect on a personal level with us, asking things about ourselves, what we did this past weekend etc. I have felt like Mrs. Smith was always somebody I could talk to. Whether it's talking about my dance season or anything else, she is always open ear.

Not only does Mrs. Smith relate to me on a personal level but she makes an effort to understand me on an academic level as well. Mrs. Smith always makes me feel welcome in the classroom, and able to ask questions. No matter what we are talking about in class, I feel valued in our classroom discussions. Even this week we were talking about Kool-Aid solutions. That's another thing I love about Mrs. Smith: she makes the learning fun and interesting by putting it into things we understand.

Mr. Kemp by Mae Knights

Having a good balance in your classroom between fun and learning is tricky to master. Some teachers just don't get it like Mr. Kemp did. He made me and my classmates excited to show up to school because you knew that he could always find a way to make the most uninteresting lesson enjoyable. I often remember him reading stories to the class, but no matter how boring the story seemed like it could be, I found myself sitting there, wide-eyed, not wanting the story to end.

When my brother had Mr. Kemp a few years before me, he would always talk about how fun his class was, and how lucky I am that I got him as a teacher. I didn't understand at first, but once I met Mr. Kemp, I immediately understood the hype. He’s the type of teacher who has inside jokes with all the kids and takes the time to get to know every single one of his students. I remember when I needed to bring snacks to school so that I would get enough protein in my diet as a kid, and he set aside class snack time for everyone so that I didn't feel singled out.

Even years after students graduate, they would still go back and visit Mr. Kemp, because he remembers every single student, and they remember him too! The couple of times that I’ve run into him over the years have been delightful, and I’m grateful to have been taught by him before he retired!

Listen to the story here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uK0kQpo6moyNpy-ITQiZp2g-Eab-vQIQ/view?usp=sharing

Ms. Corbin by Martha Willard

Fifth period English is a high-energy class, bubbling with conversation. It’s also right after lunch, and everyone is a bit squirrelly. But Ms. Corbin takes that energy and puts it into helping us learn in a fun way.

Ms. Corbin has been my English teacher this year. No matter what we’re doing, her face is rarely seen without a smile. At the beginning of the year, I thought her enthusiasm was too much but since then I have learned that her attitude is what makes English fun. Besides things like grammar, she almost never tells us that our way of doing things is straight-up wrong. She always asks questions first and tries to understand. I have always liked English, but mostly just for the reading. Being in her class has made me enjoy other aspects too, like persuasive writing. For instance, we once wrote a “power rankings”, choosing anything we wanted to rank and explaining our choices. It was fun and engaging, especially because of the creativity we could have with our tone.

Ms. Corbin’s enthusiasm makes things like compound sentences and vocabulary more enjoyable to learn. She creates exciting activities for unexciting topics by finding funny pictures to represent words and letting us draw our own in vocab activities. Her love for her students also always shines through. When we had lots of snow days in January, she told us the one thing she didn’t like about snow days was that she didn’t get to see us. Another thing I appreciate about Ms. Corbin is that she never wants a student to feel left out. During book discussion groups, she has us turn our desks toward each other so everyone is a part of the conversation.

I have had few teachers as enthusiastic as Ms. Corbin and I thank her for all the joy she has given me this year.

LINK to a recording of this article.

Mr. Tuttle by Jethro Michaelson

Southeast team at the 2023 Winter Open in Bellevue. From left: Carson Tuttle, Harper Uhl (’28), Ace Drumbarger (’27), Arin Lippe (’27), Felix Cook (’28), Jethro Michaelson (’27), Madeline Fischer (’27), and Daniel Drollette (’27).

A wave of nostalgia swept over me while heading to Southeast Junior High to interview my old history teacher. I first met Mr. Tuttle as a ball of nerves in seventh grade, unsure of what to expect. I eventually walked into his room for Global Studies, we hit it off, and two years, 2314 miles, and a state championship later, I have gotten to know this incredible teacher, coach, and friend. This is the story of one of the greatest teachers I have ever known.

In August 2021 (I can’t find the day anywhere), I was beginning a new era of my life at Southeast. I was a little kid no more. I was a nervous wreck; I had no idea what to expect. Eventually, I found myself in Tuttle’s room. I was probably expecting a stuffy old man but was greeted by a tall man in his late 20s or early 30s. He was excited that I and all the other students could be there with him. He quickly became one of my favorite teachers. Near the end of seventh grade, he announced he would start a new club next year: Quiz Bowl. He asked me and a couple of other students if we would be interested in joining. I said ‘sure.’ That was one of the greatest decisions of my life.

Fast forward a couple of months, eighth grade has started, and I am overjoyed to see the name Tuttle on my schedule for American Studies. Fast forward a few more months, and you’ll see me and some of the other members of the new club standing in a freezing parking lot at 6 AM in the middle of December. We were going to be the first Quiz Bowl team from the ICCSD to compete in a tournament. We had a school bus scheduled to take us to West Dubuque. However, that bus never arrived, and we were worried our chances were gone before the tournament even started. However, determined not to fail, Mr. Tuttle organized a couple of parents to help carpool the hour and a half to Dubuque.

We made it there just in time, and we were ready. We had won all five rounds before the final round against Anamosa. It was an incredibly close game, and we suffered a gut-wrenching loss after they got a round of bonus questions on an embarrassingly straightforward topic: Spider-Man.

However, 2nd place was way better than we had expected. This would be the beginning of a great legacy. We turned up to Bellevue two months later, ready to demolish the competition. However, while checking in, we realized that Anamosa wasn’t there. While we were disappointed that our rivals weren’t there, that did mean that victory was all but certain. We ended up being over 1000 points clear of the 2nd place team.

Another two months after that, we piled into our cars and set out to Ankeny for the Middle School State Championship. We were again disappointed that Anamosa was a no-show, but we were ready to go for glory. And we got it. We again finished 1000 points ahead of 2nd place, the largest margin of victory in the middle school state championship in Iowa Quiz Bowl history.

Our consistent performance meant that we were invited to the National Tournament in Chicago. We were incredibly excited once we earned the funds to go. And while our performance wasn’t awesome (128th out of 160 teams), we did pretty good for a public school.

Once school ended for that year, I went on a school trip to Washington, DC, and New York. And who should be my group leader but the Turtle himself. We spent a great week together experiencing the two great cities, but it was rather bittersweet, as this would be the last time I would be able to see Mr. Tuttle often.

Mr. Tuttle’s legacy can even be seen here at City High, with him inspiring the members of last year’s team to help start a Quiz Bowl team here, and the excellence has continued, with the JV team (last year’s Southeast team) taking the JV state championship and the Varsity team finish as runners up in the open division.

Mr. Tuttle had an amazing effect on my confidence, and my life in general. Anyone who had him can attest that he is a truly amazing man.

Mrs. Knoche by Rainie Pfohl

Teaching math is hard, especially to a certain audience of students these days as attention spans are getting worse. Mrs. Knoche however has always been able to do a great job with teaching her students, and helping them understand what exactly they are learning. Mrs. Knoche is a math teacher here at City High, teaching Geometry Honors and AP Computer Science. Many of her students feel that she has a great way of teaching, and always understand her class compared to other math classes they have taken.

Mrs. Knoche attended the University of Iowa where she initially had two degrees in mind; teaching, and specializing in radios and tech. She explained how she went on a visit to a job where they worked with DJs and radios, and how it turned out to be not the right fit for her. She later then took a visit to her school where she shadowed one of her favorite teachers and immediately knew it was for her.

“I just love everything about teaching. I love connecting with the kids and being in the classroom. You know, I've done lots of other things where I’ve been out of the classroom, teaching teachers, admin kind of things, and I’ve always come back to the classroom cause that's what I enjoy,” Mrs. Knoche said.

Mr. Miller by Aj Jacobus

When I think about my past math classes I just want to lay down and go to bed. However, with Mr. Miller, math is a class I look forward to everyday. Mr. Miller is the kind of teacher to make something that could be easily boring into something entertaining and fun.

Math is filled with different properties and ways numbers can be manipulated through complicated equations, but Mr. Miller has a way of explaining these concepts in ways that just make sense. He uses simple language and relatable situations to help his students understand these difficult ideas.

When a student is struggling to understand something, instead of calling them out or ridiculing them in front of their peers, Miller works through tough problems with them and makes sure they can grasp the concept before leaving their side.

What really sets Mr. Miller apart from the rest is his interest in his students. Miller will talk to a student about anything in their life from work to their travels he can talk about anything. He also takes a big interest in how his students do their work, constantly asking me questions about how I did my arithmetic or what property I used to solve an equation.

Overall, Mr. Miller is a great person that has helped me and other students a lot this year through his constant positive outlook on everything he does.

Click here to listen

Mrs. Carroll by Javeon James

Ever since last year when I was just a freshman my iJAG teacher Mrs. Carroll has been a huge influence on not only me but all my iJAG peers who've been fortunate to have been taught by her. Mrs. Carroll is one of the nicest and kindest teachers I’ve ever met and what stands out about her to me is she’s a teacher that's very committed to her students no matter what and always wants her students to strive for excellence and to finish strong.

Mrs. Carroll is a very compassionate teacher that's always understanding to her students no matter where they are coming from and always helps with their struggles and needs. Mrs. Carroll is also a very caring teacher who really cares about her students’ futures and successfulness by helping kids that might not have the same opportunities or connections as other kids connect with different jobs or career paths that someone might be interested in, and then teaches them employability skills to thrive in any workplace and make sure we have resumes for the future and teaches us how to be successful for any future job interview.

Everyday going into iJAG I know it's a calm class where I can either do my work for other classes or learn future skills that I'm definitely going to need for the rest of my life. Something I believe that Mrs. Carroll does that makes her stands out from other teachers is her weekly check-ins that she does with all of her iJAG kids where she asks us about our mental, our home life, and makes sure we have short term and long term goals to fulfill and that we’re on track to achieve those goals.

Overall Mrs. Carroll is a great teacher and mentor to all of her students.

Mr. Burkle by Ziggy Alvarez and Aylan Guerra

In room 3312 sits a man that has been through trials and tribulations from breaking every bone imaginable in his body to having a huge love of comics while also teaching students about Government and Politics. John Burkle has taught us AP Government and it has been hilarious. Burkle has a story for everything when it comes to politics and government and he has opened our eyes to just how interesting the subject of politics can be.

What comes so easily about learning the subject is that Burkle can relate laws and politics to personal stories or things he knows. It makes thinking back to certain important things in the units easy because of how memorable the stories are. It's not an easy class by any means but Burkle is there to raise the mood and make us students believe we are able to take on the tough materials and be confident when walking into the AP exam. On top of all that, the constant questions from students to Burkle can also be a huge highlight when it comes to the class. Burkle is always ready to answer any questions with his honest opinion which could be hard for certain teachers that teach the subject as well. Burkle gives each student many tools as well as offering constant help with certain tests. The writing portion of the class that consists of FRQs can be hard for first time students to the subject. Burkle offers retakes for half points back and these, as well as notes and his willingness for any student to come and talk to him about their grades, scores, or anything at all, can save students.

With the year coming full circle and the end of our class coming to a near and sad end, Burkle will be one teacher that we can look back on and appreciate that he taught us the subject of government and politics.

Mrs. Whitehead by Allen Beard

Mrs.Whitehead is one of the iJAG teachers at City High, and she works in room 2104. What draws me to admire her is her connection to her students. Not many teachers try to greet their students with a comforting smile. Since joining the class I have felt known and appreciated for showing up.

iJAG is set up to help students with life after high school and she gives you lessons in class on everyday life - things like taxes, roommates, avoiding scams, avoiding cults, and buying a car.

In this class we do elections, and during these elections Mrs. Whitehead encourages students to get involved in pushing for more leadership. Mrs. Whitehead is important in the community, helping with the food pantry, and she loves her job.

Mr. Wilcox by Jacob Hills

I’ve had a class with Mr. Wilcox all three trimesters this year, and he’s no doubt made my junior year better. Not only are his classes very useful for a high schooler's future, his ways of teaching them make the classes easier to learn and understand. He’s always starting and finishing his classes with a positive attitude and making every student feel included. No class is the same as he’s always finding ways to keep his students interested or improving to keep a conversation going. Some of my favorite moments in class are when we are doing presentations and he really tries to get to know the students that are presenting and again includes everyone in the class.

Another is when Mr. Wilcox will get so off topic he will take up a majority of the period talking about different topics and his own personal experiences. With all of the information he can share to help his students prepare for the future and the good vibes he brings to every class, there is no doubt he’s one of the best teachers in the school. Although I don't think I'll have another class with him next year, I definitely hope to see him around the school and have a chance to catch up with him.

Mr. Lockhart by Greyson Alatalo

Everyone bursts into cheers as Mr. Lockhart announces that the final project is canceled. This happened because the class was challenged to a bet: if a Green Bay Packers player responded to a student’s DM on Instagram, he would cancel the final project and give everyone an A. Mr. Lockhart undoubtedly earned every student's respect that day, ending off the year on a good note.

That was a big moment in the year, but it wasn’t the only thing that made him a great teacher. Many people find that English class can be a chore to get through and often forget most of what they learned in the class. But Mr. Lockhart breaks the mold: he crafts every lesson to feel refreshing and fun. He made going to English class a fun adventure everyday. I don't often find myself looking forward to a class but when it came to Mr. Lockhart's class I was always looking forward to what was in store. Mr. Lockhart respects all his students, which makes the classroom environment a lot more alive and interactive.

There never was a dull moment in Mr. Lockhart’s english class and I will undoubtedly remember Mr. Lockhart for many years to come. I'm hoping that anyone who takes one of his English classes has the same experience that I had in his class.

Audio recording of full column

Ms. Smith by Esther Puderbaugh

Science has never been a subject that excites me, but that’s all changed this year having Ms. Smith as my Honors Chem teacher! Ms. Smith is engaging and helps make the content of the class more easily understandable. Not only does she help students learn the class material, she is also interested in and supportive of students’ extracurricular and academic endeavors outside chem. I know that if I have questions about chemistry, have a problem with another class, or am not having the best day, that I can talk to Ms. Smith. Ms. Smith starts every class by catching up with us students and is always game to give her opinion on anything from what her favorite amphibian is to what team she’s rooting for in the Superbowl (Ms. Smith was of course rooting for the 49ers as she was George Kittle’s science teacher. Apparently he was goofy back then, too). I’m so grateful to Ms. Smith for being an incredible teacher and for making science fun, enjoyable, and a class I look forward to everyday!

Mrs. Dickson by Rito Perez and Jack Rogers

Jack: Taking my first AP class was a scary thought. From the summer assignment to the different classwork that I wasn’t familiar with and much harder tests it was anything but easy in the beginning. Having Mrs. Dickson as a teacher was the best thing that I could’ve asked for. She makes everything so clear while lecturing and giving us outside examples that connect to the subject to help us remember. She is so funny and makes for an interesting class while still being strict to make sure we are getting the most out of the class. She always has great outfits and great energy and is always thinking about how to make the class better. One of my favorite memories from the class was when she was gloating about her perfect snow day prediction record and she was saying how there was no chance there would be a snow day the next day. She even went to the extent of wagering the class with snacks that there wouldn’t be a snow day. Honestly I thought there was no chance of a snow day as well. But, sure enough the ice was just too much for them not to call it and we had the day off. I remember waking up to a humbled email from Mrs. Dickson and that gave me a good laugh. All in all Mrs. Dickson has given me a great experience in AP World History and I will miss having her everyday in the future.

Rito: While I knew what to expect coming into AP World History this year from my experience in APUSH last year, I wasn’t expecting to have an even better time. Mrs. Dickson really fostered that experience for me. She understood at the beginning of the year that most kids had not taken an AP class, and eased us into the year. She never really gives us an overwhelming amount of work and information and is understanding about out of school events and stress. Not only does she make the course’s content interesting and easily-conveyed, she has fun simulations that create a good learning environment. My favorite memory in the class this year was when Mrs. Dickson conducted a simulation for the Silk Road which we had been recently learning about. On the first day of the simulation, we all were in the class as Mrs. Dickson was frantically trying to set up boundaries to separate the “countries.” When the game started, chaos ensued in the classroom with people stealing from each other and making illegal treaties. She tried her best, but the best she could do was try and stop the game and restate the rules with an emphasis on no cheating and stealing. Eventually the thievery picked up again, and she caved in and egged us on. Overall, I am going to be sad when Mrs. Dickson is no longer my teacher, but I will cherish the rest of days we have.

Mr. Burkle by Ethan Lalumiere

Before Mr. Burkle’s class, I didn’t really think about politics and the government that much. I just kind of went with what everyone else said was going on around us. I’ve always been more into history as a whole, and Mr. Burkle really expanded that this year with AP Gov.

The importance of politics and the government’s role as a whole has greatly increased in recent years with issues becoming much more national and people becoming much more aware of how laws affect them. Mr. Burkle does an excellent job of pointing out different issues in his class as he is sure to always show exactly what the modern application of the law we’re discussing is and how it relates to us now.

His teaching style has the perfect groove because of his sense of humor. The class has a lot of lectures, but they’re always kept interesting by his takes on the topic we’re discussing, or his witty responses to the questions being asked. He manages to keep the class super fun and engaging for many students with his incredible classroom engagement skills.

Ms. Mclaughlin by Thisbe Lewis

The first day of school. Nerves are high and excitement is skyrocketing. Everyone is anxious, hopeful to see familiar faces in their brand new classes. The teacher's greeting will set the tone for the year. It's 8:50 and the bell rings, I'm greeted with a huge grin.

Walking into school every day is something most high school students dread. But, for me, walking into room 1212 is the highlight of the day. You can always expect to be greeted with a smile and a cheerful “Good Morning!”. Ms. McLaughlin is the definition of what City High stands for.

Always there if you need help with factoring, a quick snack, or just someone to listen to your stupid jokes. I’ve always had a passion for math, although I've recently struggled in the subject. Ms. Mclaughin cares so deeply about her students' learning. She will come in early, stay late, and see you during her open periods. She’s dedicated to spending the time making sure her students are comfortable with the content and understand it fully. Students like me have definitely not made their job easy. As someone who isn’t always motivated to keep working when it gets hard, Ms. McLaughlin has always lent the helping hand needed.

Ms. Silva by Skylar Schulz

Whether it’s chatting about women’s basketball or encouraging me to score better on her tests, Ms. Silva has impacted my life during my final year of high school at City High. I feel as though I can talk to Ms. Silva about my performance in her class and how I can improve, as well as my personal life and anything I may be going through. It’s special to have a bond with a teacher that you respect and admire during highschool. It’s certainly not something I have always had throughout my four years here, and something that not all students may have. Once you find “your teacher,” I truly believe it makes your highschool career easier and more joyful.

My favorite memory from Spanish class this year is when I walked into class excitedly watching the women's NCAA tournament praying that Ms. Silva would let me keep watching. Surprise! She said no. I begged and begged, saying “this is a very important game.” “En your mochila,” Ms. Silva said. I did not listen and continued to sneakily watch the game under my desk until my phone went black and turned off. What I asked after my phone died might be the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard. “Can I use your phone charger, " I said. Ms. Silva erupted into laughter and I couldn’t help but laugh with her. Even a few kids in my class were laughing too. She told me it was karma and that I got what I deserved. Even though I didn’t put my phone away when asked several times, she ended up letting me use her charger. It was a kind gesture that she didn’t have to do and now something that I will remember as a funny memory from my senior year.

When I go off to college this fall, I will remember Ms. Silva as one of my favorite teachers and one that I learned the most from. I will miss her and her teaching, but the students that get to be in her classes next year are lucky and are in for a fun year!

Mr. Wilcox by Jacob

I’ve had a class with Mr. Wilcox all three trimesters this year, he’s no doubt made my junior year better. Not only are his classes very useful for a high schooler's future, his ways of teaching them make the classes easier to learn and understand. He’s always starting and finishing his classes with a positive attitude and making every student feel included. No class is the same, he’s always finding ways to keep his students interested or improving to keep a conversation going.

Some of my favorite moments in class are when we are doing presentations and he really tries to get to know the students that are presenting and again includes everyone in the class. Another is when Mr.Wilcox will get so off-topic he will take up a majority of the period talking about different topics and his own personal experiences. With all of the information he can share to help his students prepare for the future and the good vibes he brings to every class, there is no doubt he’s one of the best teachers in the school. Although I don't think I'll have another class with him next year, I definitely hope to see him around the school and have a chance to catch up with him.

Ms. Meyer by Tessa Driscoll

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Ms. Meyer has been my math teacher for Algebra 2 Honors this year, and I have never had a teacher who enjoys their job to the extent Ms. Meyer does. When she teaches, she is full of a fire most high school teachers don’t express. Her class is full of energy, most of which she provides herself. As she teaches a new concept, she jumps up and down, willing you to understand. When her students grasp it, she cheers. Often she is so excited when an equation works out perfectly, she has to circle the answer 10 times.

She likes to use colored pencils for different parts of equations she is teaching, and suddenly a bland math problem turns into a colorful drawing that makes sense in the eyes of 16 year olds. Every class begins when Ms. Meyer asks her students about their lives, insisting that she knows of every school event she can possibly attend. Not only does she come to every event she can, she cheers the loudest and makes sure to shout everyone out after they participate. Teachers are often overlooked, but I think that Ms. Meyer deserves to be appreciated. I have talked to many of my classmates, and the feeling of appreciation towards Ms. Meyer is universal.

Mrs. Basile by Audrey VandeBerg

What makes a teacher great or even good? Over the past few years, teachers have been hard to come by, between budget cuts and the job becoming harder and harder, teachers have had a difficult and demanding job. But, you can get lucky.

Teachers who want to teach and put their students in a place where they want to succeed and student become inspired by what they teach is a very special place to be. Students have become more addicted to cell phones and have shorter attention spans, and with the normal behavior of a freshman students can hate coming to their job, there are days that both the students do not want to be at school, and when the teacher doesn't, we are human, But then there is Mrs. Basile. Mrs. Basile is a special teacher, she teaches freshmen and juniors which are both very different kinds of high school students. Most freshmen are very immature, to say the least, with most not having a care in the world most teachers struggle to make them sit still and pay attention.

The other half of her day is surrounded by juniors who are just trying to make it through with college approaching and SAT’s most juniors are the most stressed in the school and struggle to get everything done on time. Mrs. Basile has the tasking job of teaching both, how she does it, no one truly knows, but from being in her class and seeing all the old juniors giving her their graduation party invites, she has truly made a difference in students’ lives. Mrs. Basile brings a light to every class and will make you smile when you thought you couldn’t a gift not many have. I along with many have been given the gift of her and her gift.

Mr. Bauman by Ahmed Basheir

Throughout High School I never really truly understood when people told me to build a connection with my counselor until I met Mr Bauman. This year I got the privilege to meet Mr Bauman in his first year as a counselor at City High and from the moment that I first walked into his office and he pointed out my Brewers shirt I knew that me and him were going to get along.

To say that Mr Bauman has made things easier and helpful throughout the school year is an understatement, from helping me out with simple tasks that make my day easier or just stopping by his office to talk about college basketball or any sport Mr Bauman is a genuine guy that cares about his students.

I would say what makes Matt so unique is his ability to connect with students and make them feel welcomed. I feel like many people would usually dred or get anxiety to go talk to their counselors but Mr Bauman’s energetic energy is what really makes him a special counselor.

Mrs. Stucky by Willow Schultz

As she lifts her hand, a conducting baton in her left, the orchestra comes to attention, beckoning the first note. She breathes deep and flicks her wrist. The bows strike the strings, and a harmony of sound comes together. Mrs. Stucky has worked hard to influence her students to be passionate about music, and in turn teach them to be a good person. Nearly twenty years ago, she began her teaching career, beginning the strife to educate.

Mrs.Stucky has been at City for around twelve years now. Ever since, she’s been the orchestra director, as well as the pit director for each school musical. She values the “fun and enthusiastic” atmosphere that the music department fosters.

On a typical day, you can find a collective of miscellaneous individuals crowded into her office, chattering, getting school work done, and doing just about anything else. It doesn’t matter if they have her as a director or not, they all value her as a teacher and person. Of course, this type of reputation is not random, it is earned, and accumulates over time. Mrs. Stucky has an unequivocal amount of admiration among her students, and it’s likely that she regularly inspires her students to pursue music throughout their high school career and life.

City High has many inspirational teachers, and they work to inspire their students, and push them to be better. Mrs. Stucky is a teacher who consistently raises this bar, and any student could attest to that.

Mr. Hellwig by Brooklyn Riley Poma

AP United States History is considered one of the hardest classes AP classes high school students take, many people across the country complain about the difficulty of the class and how it is their least favorite part of the day.
I could not relate at all, Mr. Hellwigs APUSH class is the highlight of my day. In that class, we are welcome to ask questions and fuel our curiosity. The class is not completely focused on everyone getting a 5 on May 10th but instead, it is focused on making sure we understand the concept and have fun while doing it.
On an average day, we take notes on the period we are learning about, now while that does sound quite literally like the worst class ever it is the most interesting because instead of constantly talking about the United States' international affairs during WWII we also talk about the secret tunnels under City High.
When we had to learn about the different ways countries handled international affairs during WWI he explained it like it was instead a school fight that you could watch join in on or try to break up. Explaining something that can be extremely complicated in a much simpler thing we students see frequently made me understand the concept much deeper than before.

Señora Eivins by Hattie Conover

Señora Eivins shows up to class every day with a smile on her face ready to change the lives of her students. You can see through her teaching the compassion and value she holds for all of her students and their learning. Her care for her students goes beyond the classroom which is especially obvious in the class she chose to teach. Not only is Spanish a lifelong skill that will always be useful, but Spanish is a way to communicate with and learn about the world around you which Señora Eivins embodies in her teaching and the way she treats her students.

Not only does Señora Eivins educate her students on the curriculum, but she goes above and beyond pulling in real life to her class showing the embodiment of the true value of the Spanish language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries, which, for me, has motivated me greatly to get good grades.

My favorite thing about Señora Eivins is her standard is not perfection but her standard is improving and comprehending mistakes in a way that helps you grow and understand the material which is a quality that has helped me learn more ways than I can describe. Another quality I appreciate in Señora's teaching is the ability for students to choose what they want to learn about but still in a controlled and educative manner.

I have had Señora Eivins as my Spanish for 2 out of my 3 years of Spanish at City High, I greatly appreciate everything she has done for me as a student and as a human during these years. I will always remember the lessons she taught me and carry them with me throughout my life and the rest of my Spanish career.

Mrs. Stucky-Swanson by Will Hand

The chatter of orchestra students fills her office as Mrs. Stucky gets her conductor's music ready for first period Symphony Orchestra. Even though most students are bleary-eyed since it’s the first period of the day, she makes everyone feel more motivated to rehearse by pulling up a TwoSetViolin (a classical music comedy duo) video on the SMART Board for everyone to watch before rehearsal starts. Classical music often wears a serious facade, like a stern librarian sitting behind a desk in the library. But Mrs. Stucky defies convention. She believes that joy and discipline need not be at odds, and makes every effort to bring joy to the music we play. Mrs. Stucky, with her baton in hand and a heart full of passion, transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Mrs. Stucky has taught at City High for about 12 years, and teaches three orchestra periods in addition to directing the pit orchestra for each spring musical. Ever since the beginning of her teaching career, she has made sure to always value spending time with her students and getting to know them on a personal level.

On any given day during the week, you can find Mrs. Stucky teaching instrument lessons, conducting one of three orchestras, or just hanging out with students in her office. She always makes an effort to make her office a fun, safe place for any student to chat, work on assignments, eat lunch, or do just about anything else. Even students who don’t have her as a teacher spend time with her, because they know that Mrs. Stucky respects everyone for who they are and values them as a person.

I have had Mrs. Stucky for all four years of orchestra at City High, and I will always remember her as one of my favorite teachers. I will miss her teaching once I graduate, but I will always remember her whimsical personality and musical lessons.

Mr. Lockhart by Sadie Bodzin and Yomi Hemley

When we got our schedule this year and found out that we were going to have an AP class first period, we were annoyed. We didn’t want to feel drained so early in the morning. But, fortunately for us, we soon came to realize that Mr. Lockhart’s AP Lit class was the perfect class to have as our first period.

Every day when the bell goes off signifying the start of first period, our class doesn’t start working right away. Instead, we talk about our tales of triumph and woe with the class. This tradition makes Mr. Lockhart’s classroom such a fun and carefree environment. Anyone can share anything about their week and it makes our class feel so much more comfortable with each other and our teacher.

Another thing we love about Mr. Lockhart is his sense of humor. Our class is very loud and rowdy but he just plays into it and takes every joke we make in stride. He also makes it fun to learn. For example, we got to read Linden Hills instead of Dante’s Inferno and it was a really enjoyable and entertaining book instead of a super old and slow book. We still got all of the information we needed about Dante’s Inferno from a summary of the book, while also being able to read a book that we actually enjoyed.

All in all, Mr. Lockhart has been such a great teacher to have throughout such a stressful year. Sometimes English classes take the fun out of reading, but this class just gave us more motivation to read. Thank you Mr. Lockhart for facilitating such a fun and welcoming class for your students!

Mr. Hartwig by Isabella Young

No matter what happens, Mr. Hartwig’s AP Lit class is always something to look forward to. Mr. Hartwig’s positive energy is truly contagious, bringing passion into whatever he’s teaching. His impact truly extends beyone the confines of our class schedule.

While I’ve always had a passion for literature, Mr. Hartwig’s teaching brings it out even more. Whether we’re discussing Dante’s Inferno or Sula, his insightful commentary inspires his students to respond with their own, creating an inviting environment for all. Mr. Hartwig’s classroom is a melting pot of different perspectives and ideas, which are all treated with respect.

Even if it takes more time, Mr. Hartwig will give every student their chance to shine. It’s clear that Mr. Hartwig loves his job as an educator, and that truly shows in his teaching. AP Lit is a class that helps students prepare for college, and that’s truly what Mr. Hartwig does, prepare you for college. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Hartwig class without a story from him relating to the literature we’re discussing, which just adds to the friendly atmosphere of his classroom.

There is no doubt that Mr. Hartwig has made my junior year all that much better.

Dr. Schnoebelen by Tai Caputo

Chemistry is not a natural subject for me. But during this past year I have become interested in chemistry because it enables me to learn about the physical world and how it works. It is fascinating to know that the dynamics of unseen particles I learn about in class are real and happen everywhere: the world is made up of atoms and molecules and ions and compounds; these tiny particles hold the secrets of the universe.

My burgeoning interest in chemistry is in no small part due to Dr. Schnoebelen. A dedicated, compassionate teacher and an extraordinary human being, Dr. Schnoebelen upholds high academic standards by very seriously preparing all of his students for the national AP Chemistry exam in May. Although the College Board’s presentation of chemical concepts, equations, and symbols may seem daunting at first, Dr. Schnoebelen always makes sure that students are able to understand them. From his insightful analogies to his funny stories to his pages and pages of meticulous notes packets, Dr. Schnoebelen is always there for his students on every step of the way.

Even when I had a lot of trouble with the material, Dr. Schnoebelen was ready to help. He makes every student in AP Chemistry feel welcome, and for this I am very grateful.

Although I still think that chemistry as a subject is challenging, I have learned from Dr. Schnoebelen that I am capable of doing science and enjoying it.

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