Elmbrook Spotlight: Gina McElherne, Rachel Reid Share Love for Teaching

Gina McElherne                   

• School: Dixon Elementary School         
• Grade/Subject: Second Grade
• Years in the Elmbrook School District:  Seven years - three in first grade and four in second grade
• College/University:  St Norbert College for undergrad and Aurora University for my master's degree

What’s the best part of teaching in the Elmbrook School District:
I love my students and my colleagues.  I am surrounded by hard workers who have a mutual respect for one another.  I also feel supported by the administration. 

Why I wanted to be a teacher:
I wanted to become a teacher because I have always enjoyed working with children and helping them learn/develop new ideas. I was fortunate to have some experiences with coaching and being retreat leaders in high school.  Those were positive experiences for me and led me on my journey to become an educator. I felt it was important to give students a positive learning foundation, so they enjoy school, are excited to come, and see it as a place where they can learn and be collaborative with classmates and teachers.  I want them to feel like they are part of a team and not just a number. 

If I wasn’t a teacher, I’d be:
I’m really not sure because I never really wanted to be anything else…..maybe a buyer for a retail store or an event planner for a larger organization.  I have friends with those jobs and they kind of seem fun.

My least favorite subject in high school was:
Shakespeare – the teacher was boring and even fell asleep a few times during class 

My favorite school lunch menu item was:
The giant rice crispy treats

Rachel Reid

• School: Fairview South
• Grade/Subject: Junior High/High School Autism
• Years in the Elmbrook School District: First year
• College/University: Northern Illinois University 

What’s the best part of teaching in the Elmbrook School District:
Elmbrook is committed to developing teachers in the district to ensure a great education for the students. I am supported by the administration team to be innovative to guarantee every student receives instruction that plays off of their strengths.  

Why I wanted to be a teacher:
I wanted to teach special education because I want to help improve the lives of the students.  I wanted to not only teach them their core academics but the skills that will help them lead the most independent lives possible. 

If I wasn’t a teacher, I’d be:
Scuba dive instructor in Belize

My least favorite subject in high school was:
Physical education

My favorite school lunch menu item was:
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup