By Anna Stuhr
Student intern
Elgin Public is introducing new teachers into their school family this week. When the school opens Thursday there will be three new faces. Miranda Rockwood will be teaching kindergarten, Katlyn Springer will be the new counselor and Vijendra Boken will be teaching math.
Ms. Rockwood grew up in Pierre, S.D., and has been teaching for seven years. She received her undergrad at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, and she received her master’s degree at Midland.
“I’m excited for sure (to start the new school year). I grew up in a smaller community, so I’m happy to be back in a smaller community,” she said.
“I’m excited to meet the kids and the families and get to know kids that have older siblings, and to be a part of the welcoming community.”
She looks forward to seeing her kindergarten students grow throughout the year and watch their little personalities grow and build.
“From a kindergarten teacher’s perspective, you get a lot of kids at the beginning of the year, and everyone’s all over the place, so it’s nice to see them progress throughout the year, and then, by the time they leave kindergarten, they’re already ready for first grade, so it’s really cool to be able to see them grow and progress throughout the year.”
Replacing Sonia Rittscher as the school’s new counselor, Mrs. Springer grew up in Lincoln. She received her undergraduate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and she received her master’s degree at Wayne State College. She has been teaching for three years.
“I would say I’m definitely excited. So far, when I’ve come in here to get set up and get things ready, everyone’s been really welcoming and really nice,” she said. “I’m super pumped to get to know and help them.”
Her favorite part of being a school counselor? “I would say, on my high school side of doing things, I really love when I can help a kid figure out what they want to do next. I think seeing a kid have that ‘ah-ha’ moment of figuring out what life is going to look like after high school is really exciting.”
Boken grew up in India, where he went to college, and he has been teaching for 20 years. When asked if he is excited to start teaching at Public, he answered, “Yes, of course! Meeting the students and helping them learn mathematics … Math was my most favorite subject in high school.”
The Elgin Public staff is excited to have the chance to work with these three incredible people.
They are sure that they will bring joy and happiness to their school family, and they can’t wait to start working with them and introduce them to the students and families.
