Rachel Hauptly, Dunkerton High School

Position: 7th - 12th Grade Family & Consumer Sciences

Years Teaching: 18

Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family, camping, boating, reading, and raising animals on our small hobby farm.

What do you enjoy most about teaching? I enjoy the connections with students over the years. Every day is an adventure when you work with 12-18 year olds. I love their energy and helping them achieve what they want out of life. Teaching Family and Consumer Sciences is very interactive and hands-on, so every day is managing organized chaos and so fun.

What do you find most challenging about teaching? The most challenging part about teaching is when you get to know and love your students like family, you experience every heartbreak and setback right along with them. Losing students for death or even illness and watching the kids you love struggle.

The hardest part day to day is dealing with teenage attitudes. :)

Best tip for new teachers: Set clear expectations and hold kids accountable, but don't take it personal when they fall short. Have fun and enjoy the ride. Teach bell-to-bell: classroom management is so much easier when you keep them engaged.

Best tip for career teachers: It's ok to try something new or do something in a different way than you are used to. Use friendly competitions to drive motivation.

Favorite piece of advice for students: School is a safe place to take risks and try new things. It's ok to make mistakes- We are here to learn. It is better to learn these skills now than when you are out in a career or paying for college someday.

What does being a Gold Star Teacher mean to you? I am honestly so humbled by this. I remember being in elementary school and filling out the paper forms for my favorite teachers and putting them in the box in the office hoping they would get it. To me, it is validation that what I do does make a difference and people notice and appreciate hard work. My preferred leadership style is to lead by example and I think the Gold Star Teacher award exemplifies that. I am grateful to have been nominated and selected for this award.