Thursday, May 9, 2024
Vol. 5, No. 38
PCMExplorer Local People. Local Stories.
T H A N K Y O U T E A C H E R S
From start to finish PCM Extended Learning Program Teacher Brian Adams helps guide students of all ages to grow and develop to find their passions and highest potential By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Growth and development — from early in elementary school to seniors moving their tassel at graduation — is what drives PCM Extended Learning Program Teacher Brian Adams. A 2003 graduate from PCM, Adams has a front-row seat to see students from the start of their school journey until the final day. “My favorite part of teaching is watching kids grow and develop over time. I am lucky because I get to work with kids from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade,” Adams said. “I started working with some of this year’s seniors when they were 8 years old. To see where they are now and to know that I’ve helped them get there in some small way is what keeps me
What would you tell young people interested in teaching?
PCM Middle School Music Teacher Janice Davis came home to not only teach but raise her family in the communities she loves By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
going.” The extended learning program, or ELP, is the district’s commitment to provide a quality continuum of services and collaborative
Fridley: Teaching is hard work. Teaching has many challenges. Teaching is exhausting. BUT it is so worth it and extremely rewarding. The students make all the challenges worth it. To know you are making a positive impact on a child is an incredible feeling. I would tell them to love all your students, build positive relationships with them, set high expectations and you will see amazing things.
Prairie City Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Stacy Fridley wanted to be a teacher as long as she could remember and landed her dream job at PCM From trying to get her brother to be her “student” when she was young to teaching the youngest kiddos, kindergarten teacher Stacy Fridley has always had a passion for teaching. When her dream job of teaching kindergarten at PCM opened up, she jumped on the opportunity to be back in her hometown and make an impact on the communities she loves. “For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a teacher,” Fridley said. “When I was little I always wanted to play school and often begged my brother to be my student. Through the years I had
A publication of est. 1851
supports to meet the needs of students identified as needing enrichment or unique and individualized
Wanting her family to be a part of the PCM community brought middle school music teacher Janice Davis back to her hometown. Her path from graduating from Monroe to teaching at her alma mater had a few different stops, but she is more than happy to be teaching her passion of music to students each day. “In college, I started out as a music therapy/music ed major. After spending a year in that coursework,
ADAMS | 3
DAVIS | 3
Jamee A. Pierson/PCM Explorer PCM ELP Teacher Brian Adams helps a student with a project during his time at Prairie City Elementary.
Always a teacher By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer
Making beautiful music
so many amazing teachers that I looked up to but I absolutely loved my third grade teacher, Mrs. Mary Elrod. I wanted to be a teacher just like her.” After graduating from PCM in 2000, Fridley earned her degree in education from Simpson College and later her master’s from Viterbo University. At Simpson, she was able to get in the classroom right away and learn from a variety of educators. “One of the most valuable things I learned was to have high expectations for all students,” Fridley said. “Students will live up to the expectations that you set.” FRIDLEY | 10
Landgrebe: Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Relationships are so important to have with students, staff, and your community.
Adams: If I had to give advice to someone interested in teaching it would be that the first few years are always kind of tough but if you can make it through that you eventually find your perfect place and the job can be what you’ve always imagined it would be.
changing Davis: The profession is yday is er ev at th fast. Don’t think — it’s ke ca of gonna be a piece ce in en fer dif a not! But making best. e th is es liv young peoples’ e job th on y da st AND from your fir rnal. jou ily da a rt in education sta you g hin et m so Every day write at th m fro r be want to remem rnal. jou e th in ge school day on a pa so exhaustSome days you will be ntence. a se ed you can only write ve so much ha ll wi Some days you s. to say, you write page
A warm welcome hello Monroe Elementary Reading Specialist Angie Landgrebe is the first person kids see when arriving at school providing a warm welcome to start the day By Jamee A. Pierson PCM Explorer Each morning, Monroe Elementary Reading Specialist Angie Landgrebe is waiting to give students a warm welcome as she helps them from their cars to the school. Hugs and high fives are often rained on Landgrebe as kids are excited to see her to start the day. “I have always enjoyed children. As a child, I was always the kid who rounded everyone up to play school,” Landgrebe said. “I spent most of my weekends growing up babysitting all of the neighborhood kids. I have always known that I wanted
Landgrebe to spend every day with children.” A Monroe High School alumnus, Landgrebe went on to earn her degree from William Penn before return-
CONTACT US Newsroom: 641-792-3121, ext. 7 • Advertising: 641-792-3121, ext. 2 Subscriptions/Delivery: 641-792-5320 • Billing: 641-792-3121, ext. 6
ing to Monroe to begin her teaching career. “I want to have a direct impact on my community that I know and care about. I was born and raised in Monroe so educating the next generation is important to me,” Landgrebe said. “I truly enjoy staying connected to all of the students and families that I have taught over the years.” To start her career, she had the honor of working with a teacher that had taught her in elementary school. That connection helped her during her early years and become the teacher she is today. LANDGREBE | 10
Single Copy $1