Exceptional Educator: Castle's Kathy Stehr has Teaching in her Blood

As the kindergartners in Room 109 at scramble into line, teacher Kathy Stehr, dressed in a bright red "Castle Cubs" T-shirt, calmly reminds her students what she expects before they can leave the classroom: "I'm looking for children ready for the hall; They are lined up straight and tall."

Within seconds, the 25 students are quietly walking down the hallway, ready to spend some time working with the school math specialist.

This is Stehr's seventh year as a kindergarten teacher at Castle and her 18th year as a teacher in the school. She began as a first grade teacher and then decided she was ready for a change when the all-day kindergarten program was launched.

Stehr's love for her role as a kindergarten teacher is palpable. In conversation, she refers to her young students as "punkins" and when describing the recent achievement of a particular student who had an epiphany about how much better a reader he has become,  Stehr's voice is tinged with emotion.

"This is just an amazing year of growth for children. They become readers and writers and it is just such an incredible reward to see that happen," she said. "Many can't write their names at the beginning of the year and now, it's not uncommon for them to write three sentences at a time."

It is no exaggeration to say that teaching is in Stehr's blood. Her father is a teacher as are two sisters and a brother.

"I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in second grade," she said with a smile. "I used to play teacher all the time when I was growing up. I volunteered at a school when I was young. There was just no doubt in my mind."

Kerri Town, principal at Castle Elementary, called Stehr "an amazing teacher and a model for others" and said it is the kindergarten teacher's love for learning which opens up so many possibilities for her students.

"The children feel safe taking learning risks with her because she is so excited about learning right along with them," said Town. "She will stop at nothing to achieve what is possible for her students."

With three kindergarten classrooms and a growing population of English Language Learner students at Castle Elementary, Stehr said she and her fellow kindergarten teachers cluster the students by their native language to help the children become more comfortable in the classroom.  In Room 109, there are several Hmong students.

"They tend to speak their first language to their peers. At the beginning of the year, one of the children knew a little more English than the others, so he could really help them," she said.  "All of them have blossomed so much. One of the shyest has become one of the top readers and writers in my class since the school year started."

While Stehr admitted that some kindergarten days can be long ones, she said the enthusiasm and love she receives from her students is what continues to inspire her.

"There are days when these incredible thoughts come out of someone's mouth and you are just amazed," she said, shaking her head. "That's why I do this."