Katie Bauer, ACHS math teacher (interviewed by Raegen Henry)
“Who or what inspired you to become a teacher?”
When I was in high school, I really liked math. And I thought about being an engineer, but I wasn’t quite sure what all an engineer did. And I think I was just comfortable in the school setting, so I decided I’d try to be a math teacher. I taught at Effingham high school for fifteen years, and when a position came open at Altamont, where all of my kids go to school, I thought that was the best place for me.
“What traits do you help to have with teaching?”
Definitely having patience and flexibility. Otherwise, they will get burnt out really quickly.
“What three words do you think students would use to describe you?”
Hopefully, kind and understanding, but still try to hold them to a high standard.
“What would you say if you wanted to encourage others into this career?”
Everyday can be challenging, but everyday is going to be different. And it is also rewarding.
“What is your favorite part about teaching?”
I like that everyday is a little bit different, and I also have the flexibility to kind of run my classroom how I want to. We have guidelines, but you can kind of do what works best for your personality and your students.
“What is your least favorite part about teaching?”
Sometimes this job can be very demanding, like you have to be on all the time because there’s always students watching and listening and looking to you as a role model. You just want to be the best role model you can be, and sometimes it gets exhausting.
“When did you know you wanted to become a teacher?”
The second half of my senior year. I finally nailed it down to that’s what I want to do. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I also did not want to travel far from home, so I kind of just mapped out what it would look like to go to college to be a teacher, and I kind of had a plan.
“Why did you choose the subject that you chose?”
I was good at it, and not everybody was good at it. I was good at other things too, but it made sense, and it seemed like something else nobody really wanted to do, and I kind of wanted to be a little different.
“What is your favorite thing about this school in particular?”
I love our community, how it is like everybody knows everybody, and everybody is willing to help each other out. I think that starts in school and kind of branches out to the rest of the town.
Mr. Kris Biggs, Principal of Altamont Grade School.(Interviewed by Lucas Mesnard)
"What made you want to start teaching?"
I enjoyed math, liked helping people, and wanted to coach, so education made sense for all of those.
"What is your favorite moment from your teaching/principal career?"
Not sure that I have one favorite moment. I love watching students grow throughout their educational years. That might be within sports, academics, or even just maturing as they get older.
"What was the scariest moment in your education career?"
Again, not one moment that stands out. Hardest times are dealing with people that do not trust the school and getting them to see that we are looking out for the best interest of our students. Some do not believe or feel that we are actually doing that.
"Was there ever a point where you considered quitting teaching?"
I have never considered quitting this profession. There may be days, just like any profession, that one feels defeated, but never thought about getting out.
"What was the most difficult part of becoming a teacher?"
Being in charge of your own classroom and being very close in age with high school students when you 1st start. No one really prepares you for either of those things.
"Did you ever get tired of my tomfoolery when I was in grade school?"
Nope! Just as long as you learned from your mistakes.
"Did you always want to be a principal or did it just come about?"
3 of us started taking our principal courses together, but none of us really had a plan of when or if we would make the move to being a principal. The opportunity presented itself in Altamont so Mr. Hill and myself decided to apply and here I am 15 years later moving from high school math teacher, to assistant principal and now principal for the last two years.
"What is your favorite memory from your teaching career?"
Favorite memories would be when I see a former student and they bring up memories of when they were in my class. Some have even expressed that I was the reason they made it through the math classes, which I appreciate, but don't really think I was the reason.
"Do you have a favorite student over the years, if not, who was your favorite teacher growing up."
I wouldn't say I have a favorite student. I would say that I am still close to several of my former students and we like to talk about memories, most associated with coaching.
"Did you like being in the classroom or being the principal better?"
Both are very different. I would say for me that teaching is still in my blood and that there is a satisfaction in helping students realize that they can do more than sometimes they give themselves credit for.
Friday, November 21, 2025
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🎉 Congratulations, Spencer! 🎉 Spencer Lurkins is the Elks Free Throw Contest Champion and will be advancing to the next round on January 10th! 🏀 🏀 We're so proud of your hard work and dedication- keep it up!! 💪🏼We are Altamont Proud! 🧡 🖤
Also, reminder that in observance of Veteran's Day there will be No School on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Sheri Schafer, ACHS Family Consumer Science Teacher, FCCLA/FCA/French Club sponsor (Interviewed by Torey Overbeck)
“What made you want to become a teacher?”
I started out undergrad with my fashion design major. When I graduated with that major, I thought “I don’t want to go to New York” so I just got a job in hotel management. Eventually, I met my husband and took a job to stay in Effingham; that was managing a retail store and being a clothing buyer. My husband was a teacher and I thought “That gig sounds really good” and I considered being a teacher. However, I was afraid to tell my parents that I had to keep going to school. After I met him and saw how family friendly teaching was like, I knew I wanted to have a family and the idea of summers off were great. All the things I did, like, my undergrad degree, hotel management, and being a clothing buyer all are under family consumer science. I saw that all of my things I like to do kind of fall under that umbrella, so I went back to school to be a teacher at 29.
“Why did you choose to teach at Altamont?”
I had been at Neoga for 16 years and the program got cut because of financial issues. It was a strong program, so I was really sad. I looked for a job and I got one at Sullivan, but it was just part time. I was there for a couple years and asked them to go full time, and they said no. After that, I actually got a job at ALAH, which is Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond, but a couple days after they offered me the job, Mrs. Niebrugge and Mrs. Lurkins called me and said “Hey, we have an opening in Altamont you need to apply.” I knew that this job would be awesome because it’s close to home, and I wouldn’t have so much travel time. I applied and they offered me the job in the interview, so I called Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond. They were really gracious and let me back out of that job and take this one.
“What’s your favorite thing about Altamont High School?”
I love the size, it is very similar to Neoga. I just like the small town, the atmosphere, that even if I don’t have every student, I kind of still know every student. I love how supportive small communities are of their school. They tend to back up their teachers and show up and help when we need help at the school and I love that atmosphere of a small town.
“What are your greatest strengths as a teacher?”
I believe in what I teach. I believe what I teach is important and useful and helpful. I start every class saying, “You’re never going to wonder how you use this stuff. It’s all life skills.” I love hands-on stuff. I myself am a kinesthetic learner, like, let me do it, don’t tell me about it, let me do it. All my classes have that aspect of hands-on learning and actual skill that you will use again someday in real life.
“Would you say you have a weakness?”
Yes, I am a perfectionist. Sometimes I have to not be so hard on myself, and sometimes not be so hard on others. I tend to want things done right. Sometimes I need to just understand that everybody is at a different level of learning and be patient, but I have high expectations for myself and for others, too.
“What is your day like at Altamont High School as a teacher?”
It’s different every year, but it depends on my schedule. This year since I have first hour prep both days, I still get here early. I still get here probably 20 or 30 minutes before I have to be here because I like feeling ready. Especially with first hour prep now, I always have all my copying done, but then it’s bam, bam, bam after that. I have lunch and I have no other free time. Most of the day is that I teach, teach, teach.
“What is your favorite part about teaching?”
Relationships, getting to know kids, thinking that even if it’s just one kid a year that I maybe made their day or helped them learn something that makes them want to do a certain job or career and help them find their career path. If I just did that for one student every year, the fact that I might have impacted 30 kids by the time I retire, that’s awesome. Maybe, they wouldn’t have that adult in their life if I hadn’t been teaching.
“What advice would you give to Altamont students or any student?”
Don’t be afraid to try new things. I would also say, I tell my classes this. I took an aptitude test when I was a sophomore in high school. I don’t know, when you’re a sophomore and you’re like sarcastically “Oh, I’m gonna take a career test.” as if I know what I want to be when I’m 14 or 15 years old. I took it and I never really thought too much about it. Years later, my dad passed away and I was cleaning out my dresser at my old house. I found this aptitude test and my number one job I should have was home economics teacher. I didn’t pay any attention to it at that time and instead, I went and got a degree in fashion design. Then I was a hotel manager, then I worked at a pro golf discount, then a software company, and then I became a teacher. I might have found a more direct path if I had just listened.
As a part of Mr. Long’s Photojournalism class, students completed a short interview with different staff members of the district. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight some of the staff that help make a difference in our students' lives.
Mrs. Niebrugge, ACHS Art Teacher (Interviewed by Brayden Elam)
“What would you do if you weren’t in education?”
Probably something with art. I don’t know, probably work at Hobby Lobby.
“What made you choose education?”
It was sort of my second choice. I was going to go into art therapy. How it worked was that you went to school for a four year degree and then you got a masters in art. However, the program was full. I tried again and got in the second time, but then I was already at home so I didn’t want to drive back and forth. I’m like, it’s meant to be that I teach art.
“What is one thing on your bucket list?”
Italy, I want to go to the Basilica of St. Peter’s.
“What do you bring to Altamont schools?”
Obviously, I bring an art education. Hopefully, I'm upbeat with kids and not somebody that’s always yelling at them.
“What do you want to accomplish here at Altamont schools?”
I have had several students that went on to be art teachers or something in the art field, so that is always important to me.
“On summer vacation, where is your favorite place to go?”
Colorado. I have family out there and I love the atmosphere like the mountains . So relaxing.
“What was the first job you had?”
Picking strawberries when I was in junior high.
“How did that job prepare you for the future?”
Patience, I guess excelling under the heat.
“What is your favorite genre of movie?”
Oh rom com definitely, they always have happy endings.
“What is a setback you have overcome?”
I would say, in the last couple years I've had surgeries, like with my hip and a tumor that I had.
“So how did that make you a better person?”
It very much humbles you and if a kid has an injury, you are more likely to help them or empathize with them.
“What are your favorite parts of your job?”
I like when you teach a kid how to draw or paint and then they realize that they're good at it. That’s probably one of my favorite things. When the lights go on and they enjoy what they learn and how to do it.
Martha Puckett, AGS and ACHS Health Teacher (interviewed by Adelyn Denton)
“What was your first job you had?”
Besides babysitting, I was a sales associate at Office Max.
“What skills did you develop from that?”
I learned how to talk to people and how to fill out paperwork. I learned how to interview people for a job which is an important skill to have.
“How did that job prepare you for the future?”
It taught me that I really didn't want to work in retail for very long. I quickly got another job.
“What’s your least favorite part of teaching?”
Paper work, I’d rather just teach the students.
“If you could change one thing about your teaching, what would it be?”
Education should be applicable to everyday life. I teach health and I want you to be able to take what we talk about in class and go apply it right now.
“If you were to implement this change, what would be your first step?”
Cutting out the extra fluff from the information we talk about and streamline it to the real necessary items and include more topics that are pertinent to your everyday life.
“What are your favorite parts of teaching?”
I love being able to see when a student figures out they can do things themselves like connecting all the dots. They can see how things work together and how take something they learned and apply it to their life. When they can take something we talked about and be more successful because they were taught about that.
“What is one thing you can change about our school?”
That is a hard one. I really like this school and it is one of the best places I have taught. I would say that being in the high school building more often and offering more health related classes.
“What helped you decide what you wanted to do in life?”
I had a teacher, when I was in high school, that I didn't care for and I thought did a really terrible job. My parents challenged me to do a better job so I did.
“If you hadn't chosen this path, what would you be doing instead?”
Be a nurse, no doubt.
“What was your favorite job that you ever had?”
- Tossup between being a life guard or being a barista. I liked both of those jobs.
“What made that job your favorite?”
Being able to talk with people.
“What is your favorite genre of movie?”
Action
“What music would you choose to play in the classroom?”
Country
“Does your choice of music change based on what you are doing?”
Yes, if I have to concentrate, I choose music without words.
“Why did you pick this profession?”
In college I was trying to major in psychology, but backed out because it was too “sciencey”, and I had always wanted to become a teacher since I was young. I switched majors and got a history major
“When you switched, what traits do you think helped you?”
Lots of my family members have been teachers, to an extent it is in my blood. I think some traits that helped me out is that I’m very patient and I love learning new things
“Since you said you are so patient in the classroom, how do you manage to keep the class quiet?”
Well, as you can see it can be a bit of a challenge. During actual classes, I always make sure they have something to do and assignments to work on. I also love to incorporate fun activities when I can. It is the loudest when they are working independently or when I am actively teaching. I like keeping people engaged in stuff. It was one of my greatest struggles, but over time, I have improved a lot on it. I am proud of my improvement in that area,
“What does a typical day look like at ACHS?”
When I first get here in the morning, I put all my stuff away, log into my computer, and set up everything I might need for the day. Once class starts, I put in attendance and everything and have classes throughout the day. On my lunch break, I like to watch a video while eating to kinda distract my mind from the workplace for a little bit. After the end of the day, I finish everything I need to have done and get ready to go home. I make sure assignments are posted on google classroom, make sure grades are put in, and try to have everything semi-ready for the next day. Once all of that is done, I head home.
“As a teacher, what is one thing you do that helps you with stress?”
I like to have routines. I like to put all my stuff away, change into comfier clothes, and get started on making dinner. After that I’ll watch tv, and just make sure everything is done that I need to have done. I try to stay cozy when I get home.
This year AGS introduced "Family Pods" to our students. Mr. Kull's Family Pod has been named the "Cheetos". Today, Mr. Kull went ALL out making this Halloween a fantastic one for his Pod Family by dressing up as none other than "Chester the Cheetah" and gave each of his student family pod members a Trick or Treat mini bag of Cheetohs.
