Behind every great student is a great teacher. These teachers make learning fun by thinking outside the box and creating classroom experiences that resonate with their students. They serve many roles in their schools, as spelling coaches, school bee coordinators and judges; more often than not, they are motivators who encourage their students to be the best they can be. In the “Teacher Feature,” we celebrate these educators and their commitment to their students' education.
Notre Dame of De Pere, located directly outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is a school accredited by the Wisconsin Religious & Independent School Association that educates students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. While many teachers and staff members roam the halls of Notre Dame Elementary School each day, one teacher in particular is highly respected by both parents and colleagues as a truly outstanding representation of the school's innovative spirit: Mrs. Amy Muenster.
Jim Clark, principal of Notre Dame of De Pere, nominated Mrs. Muenster in the hopes of recognizing her diverse intiatives in the classroom. She often mixes up her lessons, keeping her fourth grade students engaged in the classroom, and she also uses standardized test data in a meaningful way to guide her instruction. Among her many outstanding qualities as a teacher, Mr. Clark believes that Mrs. Muenster's focus on literary instruction and the high expectations that she sets for her students' writing mechanics and spelling deserve recognition. During her time at Notre Dame Elementary School, she has been an active participant in the school's spelling bee program, a natural extension from her classroom initiatives.
Besides her endeavors in the classroom, Mrs. Muenster works diligently to go above and beyond for all of the students of Notre Dame of De Pere. Mr. Clark said, "Mrs. Muenster is a team player who is an asset not just to Notre Dame School, but to the De Pere Community as well." She arranges tutors and alternative curricula for students who seek out enrichment opportunities, and she and a fellow fourth grade teacher spearheaded an intiative to obtain new books and supplies for the fourth grade Social Studies curriculum, which focuses mainly on the state of Wisconsin. Mrs. Muenster even collaborated with Principal Clark to interview prospective students at her alma mater, St. Norbert College.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee would like to thank Mrs. Muenster for being a true go-getter and creating enriching opportunities for all of the students of Notre Dame of De Pere. We appreciate her enterprising spirit, but it is even more impressive that she follows through with those big ideas and puts in the work necessary to make a lasting impact of her students.
If you would like to nominate an educator for an upcoming “Teacher Feature,” let us know. Simply fill out your contact information, then nominate a teacher on the following page.