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scene selector Scene 1-2: mculley perserveres dreams as regrets hover scene 3: first year teacher scene 4: Kaiser’s talk scene 5: history teacher brandon coleman scene 6-7: jessica lambert: her motivation to motivate scene 8: oj sinclair on the road to change scene 9: melissa daniels happily mentors the 515 squad scene 10: mr. cody johnson’s life scene 11: how brewer came about her dreams scene 12: dc smith, taking the challenge out of dyslexia scene 13: mr. klein scene 14: kerr strives for success scene 15: ms. ramirez’s story scene 16: kirby gilson before north high school scene 17: mr. sonntag scene 18: reminiscing on the journey to becoming a teacher scene 19: the happiest moments of heidi quinn scene 20: acheive one dream, gain another scene 21: mr. schmidt juggles academic decathlon and graphic design scene 22: karen wignall: a wise, inspiring and strong teacher scene 23: smith’s ‘mountain climb’ to success scene 24: christa kordik: getting pulled to north scene 25: chris cyran: the special education instructor at north scene 26: everyday is a challenge but lisa klein is ready to conquer
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McCulley
Perseveres
Dreams
McCulley sits outside North High on a beautiful spring day. Photo Credit: Emma Mattes
as
McCulley sits peacefully writing in Mr. Vikovich’s office. Photo Credit: Emma Mattes
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Regrets
Hover
Emma Mattes, Editor
McCulley has thousands of regrets. Coming from a poor family where there was no such thing as eating hot dogs with ketchup or mustard, but always enjoying them plain, he learned to face life with the reality of little or not enough. Born from a 16-year-old mother, and an alcoholic, drug addicted father life has never been easy. There was never enough money to pay the bills, or to live in a grand, beautiful area in California. Regrets have shaped him into the person he is today. Despite the struggles he faced as a young person, Edward McCulley, vice principal at North, is a content, well-rounded person with philosophical ideas about life and reflections from the past. ''I think every mistake you make is feedback,'' he said. As he said he has a thousand regrets, which brought him to where he is today, but he's moved on from the guilt. "Guilt is a good barometer of the fact that you have a soul, but I stopped letting guilt own me, and moved past it and grow," he said. All the bad things and all the good things he's done got him here behind a desk, managing North High as vice principal. It took him a while to get where he wanted to be today, starting off with small jobs when he finally realized he wanted to be a teacher. He said with-
out those regrets he wouldn’t be sitting behind that desk today. It was a long journey, with his ambitions starting with the average fireman or doctor like every little boy. But at one point he wanted to be the guy that preapproved cartoons. ''I wanted to be the guy that watched cartoons before they went on TV, I knew there had to be someone that watched these that preapproved them,'' he said while smiling. McCulley's plan for you as a student is to be
[the teacher or coach] is standing in front of them dispensing content to them cares about them, they end up learning the content because they are caring about the person that is teaching them," he said. Something that differs from McCulley and anybody else is he plays a very unique sport that not many people hear of often, disc golf. He started playing it professionally and got to be ranked one of the best players in the world, and is still one of the best players in the state today. "I started playing disc golf and I got really good at it, I started getting competitive, and I became one of the best players in the world," he said. Still today, there are times when he's felt like giving up, just like anybody, but he continues to have plans and ambitions for his future. "I'm never going to stop pursuing what I want to pursue."
“Guilt is a good barometer of the fact that you have a soul, but I stopped letting guilt own me, and moved past it and grow.” just as well-rounded as a human being as you can, he wants you to be content with your life and who you're going to be. "I want them to be reflective about who they are, about their goals, about their purpose, about their intentions, about their heart," he said. He has intentions for North High and all the students because he cares for them. The biggest step for education and what McCulley believes in, is for people to learn from people they care about, not the subject they're learning. "When they know in their heart of hearts
Fun Facts I play the gutair. Ive been married 23 years. I was born in Illinois. I have two sons. I taught middle school math. I’m a professional disc golfer
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First Year Teacher. A view from Ms. Spencer while being a first year teacher.
“There are certain things that we have to teach or we kind of have a guide line of what we need to go over so in a way I’m responsible that the students are meeting that so they’re prepare for the next year of Spanish. But I’m also responsible for things like general skills.” She had also expected something out of her students or she just wanted to see something in her students. “I think every student there’s something that you can be good at. It might not be Spanish but I try to do my best to make Spanish something where they are successful. I realize not everybody is excited leading a second language of whether it’s Spanish, French, German but I think for me in the mindset of you’re in Spanish class. I think everybody can be something from the language, you can be successful, you can find something you connect with in the language whether it’s you like the music or you like the sports.”
Ms. Spencer forming subjuntion sentences with her students. Photo Credit: Doris Garcia Doris Garcia, Reporter First year teaching is a big step in a teacher’s career. Those who don’t know anything about a teacher’s career would never know how it feels or how it is. Ms. Spencer, a Spanish teacher at North High School, just started last August. As a first year teacher you would most likely be nervous or anxious, but she had said she was excited about starting her first day teaching at North. “I was super excited but I had no idea what to expect. So you think you’re ready but after the first week I was, like; wow this is like so much not more work but like so many things popped up that I didn’t expect that I kind of had to go back and think like; okay, what do I do, how do I do this; so I was super excited but then I just kind of realized it’s a lot of responsibility to have students in the classroom.” Although she had started her career recently, at a younger age she had started to have an idea to become a teacher. She had never thought or pictured herself going into another
Fast Facts career. It had just built up into something she 1. Started to teach on the first day found interesting. “When I was younger I really liked to read of school August 22nd books and stuff to imaginary people, I liked 2. Likes to walk her dog to practice reading books like my teacher 3. Has a fiance did in kindergarten and I like to write on the 4. Played soccer in high school. board, play school with my sister. Then when I got older I got really interested into Spanish in middle school and high school and I thought I would play them both together and be a Spanish teacher. I didn’t always know I wanted to teach Spanish but I just got really interested in it in high school and college.” It would seem that a teacher that didn’t know Spanish at all would have troubles with learning the language but she said “Yes, it started off hard but once you get over the basics then it just becomes more fun.” Who would’ve thought during her first year teaching she felt responsible of her students? She had to manage a lot with her Ms. Spencer explaining about the subjuntions. students. Photo Credit: Doris Garcia
Kaiser’s talk
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Isabel Camacho-Arias, reporter
Michele Kaiser has been teaching for fifteen years. Kaiser had taught many things in the past years before finally settling in teaching sewing. “The classes that I teach are important for life skills that everybody needs to know and that will effect the students and their families for years to come because even if they don’t have kids now, they’ll learn the skills and things that are important to raise healthy kids,” Kaiser said. Kaiser was originally born in California and ended up in Nevada, Iowa, due to her former husband being transferred for work. Kaiser expressed that finding a job was difficult at first. “It took me a long time to find a job where I could teach sewing.I lived in a town where there was only one high school and so here was only one sewing teacher and usually they would be 100 years old and not retiring ever,” she said, lightly laughing. Kaiser has been teaching for three years at North but she has also taught in Nevada, Iowa, and California. But sadly Kaiser’s three years here are coming to an end, due to school budget problems, Kaiser has been cut. There is only one thing in her life she would like to change.
Kaiser talking to a student with a smile. Photo Credits:Isabel Camacho
“I’ve learned so much from being here at North, from the students,that it’s helped me become a better person and a better teacher. Thank you”.
“I would like to be able to stay here and teach,” she said, looking down. Like most people Kaiser goes through her tough challenging days. On the days where you feel like giving up because it’s the easier thing to do, she doesn’t let them get to her. Kaiser has a mind set that helps her stay sane even on these type of days. “I don’t know if I do stay sane. I just try to take a deep breath and get through it. I realize that everyone has struggles and things going on in their lives. Knowing that sometimes just being here is helpful to students. That being here to help them with whatever’s going on in their lives, “Kaiser stated. Kaiser has been through a lot, from moving, looking for a job, car accident, and being cut, but she still has a good high spirit. She has a message for everyone at North. “I’ve learned so much from being here at North, from the students, that it’s helped me become a better person and a better teacher. Thank you.” ‘ Kaiser and stduent, Hodan Mohamed, becoming better friends. Photo Credits: Ho-
dan Mohamed
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history teacher brandon coleman life before teaching at north
Fun Facts John Harvey , reporter Brandon Coleman is a history teacher (AP Lang and 20 century history) here at North High School. Coleman is a very athletic person since college to now. He is very into football due to playing it in his college career. Mr.Coleman is a very cultured person. One major life event that has changed the way he thinks, “I got a chance to go to Africa with my football team when I was in my softmore year of collage and see those people over there and how little they have by our standerds but how happy they were still shifts your view a little bit,”. he’s very cultured and appreciate person.
•First year teacher •Went to Drake •Loves teaching •Couldnt imagine life as bissness man
brandon coleman teaching in his class photo credit john harvey,reporter
Mr. Coleman became a teacher because of his teachers. He said his teachers really inspired him. In high school he had “ a few teachers that made a really big difference “. Mr. Coleman played football in college and loves it to this day. He also wants to get his masters in teaching, To teach college. Where he sees himself in the future is still teaching but hopefully at a collage level. Some cool/interesting facts about Mr. Coleman. He likes to play video games. If he was not a teacher he would most likely be a fitness trainer. Mr. Coleman doesn’t like the easy things he likes to chalange himself
photo credit: http://www. sportslogos.net/logos/view/ r65eg4tschfvl206az8n/ Drake_Bulldogs/2005/Alternate_Logo
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Jessica Lambert: Her Motivation to Motivate Trevor Halsten, Editor Jessica Lambert is an Algebra teacher at North High School. Lambert tells that she wakes up every day motivated to teach and motivate others to become successful in life. All of this, as told by her, happened because her high school math teacher gave Lambert the motivation to motivate and the motivation to become great and do good to the future leaders of this nation. “When I was in high school I had this math teacher. She knew how my home life was, and it wasn’t good, and so she was able to take care of me, she would let me babysit her kids, and when she got home she would help me out with my math and feed me dinner. She’d always be there to motivate me no matter what. She’d have breakfast for me in the morning because she knew there were days I couldn’t eat breakfast at home...” she said. “So she was definitely a role model for what I wanted to do in life and how I wanted to treat people, exactly like that,” . To Lambert, the way she motivates people is by getting up from bed and going to work at North High School as an algebra
teacher. “Being able to see the students and work with them everyday, that’s the reason why I come here,” she said. Lambert didn’t always have the best life though, she had constant struggles at home as a child. This is one of the reasons that Lambert was always with her math teacher and getting help from her. “If anybody knows me personally, will know that I had not a good childhood, home life was not good, the safety at home was not good, the food situation was not good, having a place to sleep was not good. Everything I do, every conversation I have is always trying to make people see the best in life and everyone always knows there’s a goal out there,” she said. Like everyone, she gets stressed out. To help cure herself of her stress, and to make sure she goes to work in a positive mood, she works out every day and gets a good night’s sleep. “I workout every day, plain and simple, I go for a half hour run, I will go lift weights, every school night I make sure I’m in bed by nine, and I workout every day,” she said.
Everyone has struggles, some more than others, but Lambert’s struggles are a little less than some other peoples, but they are still struggles. This is her current struggle, Lambert works multiple jobs so she can save money to travel around the world. “I have, like, so many things I want to do right now, like I want to travel the world, so right now, basically, saving money, I am working quite a few jobs right now so that I can just travel, I want to travel around Europe, I mean that’s my biggest struggle,” she said. To go along with her struggles, Lambert said that if she could have changed anything in her life she would have studied abroad. Studying abroad would have definitely helped with her dream of traveling around Europe. “I don’t know right now, maybe travel, study abroad in college, definitely would have done that, but I think my life is pretty darn good right now,” she said. Lambert in the mind of many students, is a very motivating person. With all of the things she’s been through, she still kept pushing forward to any goal that she has planned
for life. Lambert will never give up on herself and she will definitely not give up on her students or just anyone who needs help. Lambert is definitely motivated to motivate and help others motivate each other.
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“Being able to see the students and work with them every day, that’s the reason why I come here.”
Ms. Lambert helps a student with math work after school. Photo Credit: Trevor Halsten
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OJ Sinclair on the road to change Lacey pulley , reporter
OJ in the middle in the gym holding a baketball. Photo Credit: Lacey Pulley
“ It doesn’t cost anything to be a good human”.
OJ Sinclair is an activities director here at North high. He has grown up here his whole life and went to college in Minnesota. Then he came back to Des Moines and was a teacher at Merrill Middle School for five years. Then come to us and now an activities director for North High. Sinclair had no problem being a activities director because he played a lot of sports growing up. In high school he played baseball, football, and track. In his college days he played baseball, and football. He said “ I want to be a positive impact on my kids and students”. In his heart he as a deep love being around kids and watching them grow.
oj sinclair standing by the poler bear picture. Photo Credit: Lacey Pulley
People have struggle’s even Sinclair . He said that he didn’t know what he wanted to be when is was younger . He was trying to find out who he was going to be.
overallSinclair has a love in trying to help guide students in the right direction. In the end he wants students to remember that “ it doesn’t cost anything to be a good human”.
fun facts about OJ * what is your full name? “ Oliver James Sinclair” * What is you favorite song right now? “ anything by Cody Johnson” * What is your celebrity crush? “ Giada De Laureniis”
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Melissa Daniels happily mentors the 515 squad Movement 515 is a big family, and Daniels is happy to be a part of it Mya Alexander, Editor
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How has Movement 515 shaped you? “They have shaped me by molding my mind to not stop at what’s handed to me, not expecting society for what it is but what it could be” -Davonte Binion
What is Movement 515 to you? “Movement 515 is a constantly evolving circle of creative minds that collaborate with eachother to devolop peace and love” -Julio Delgadillo
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With Movement 515 being so accepting, it’s very easy to become a part of the close knit family. They meet every Tuesday in Daniels’ classroom, and every Thursday at the Des Moines Social Club, expressing themselves and learning to make their poetry better. Students from all across the district come to speak their truth or just to let their voice be heard. “The fact that there’s students from so many different schools and so many different backgrounds that all support each other, and it’s such a good, loving, caring, and strong environment,” Daniels said. A new addition to the family is anticipated; baby Daniels. In January, Daniels announced to everyone that she was pregnant with her first baby. Telling her 515 family was like telling her own family and in respect of that, everyone went crazy giving out baby names. From eccentric names like Hot Dog Daniels, or PB&J Daniels, to more realistic names like Sofia Daniels or Hendrix Daniels; everyone is letting their opinion be heard. While Daniels may not be taking all of these names seriously, she is taking in all the love and respect to her newly growing family. By this time next year our new addition to the Movement 515 family will be much loved, and will be able to love the family back.
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Melissa Daniels, an AP Lang & Comp and English 2 teacher at North High School, has many exciting things in her life right now. From her involvement in Movement 515 to the movement happening inside of her as she’s pregnant, she definitely has things to look forward to. What many may not know is her poetry history. Like most middle school students she would write love poems to people she secretly had a crush on. “I was like really nerdy so I didn’t actually approach them but I’d be sitting there with my glasses writing my secret love poems,” Daniels said. Looking back on it I guess you could say it’s ironic how before she could never approach her audience and now she is a mentor for those doing the exact opposite. The first year that Movement 515 started at the schools, the founders, The 515 squad poses as a family. From left to right: Lashon, Julio Delgadillo, Russhaun Johnson, Melissa Emily Lang and Kristopher Rollins, had Daniels, Melanie Carmenatte, Karriem Muhammad. Photo Credits: Mya Alexander asked for recommendations from their students. time, there’s so much judgement, there’s so “They asked Russhaun [a student of beloved mentor for Movement 515. Being in Movement 515 has many benmuch anger and feelings of self hate and Daniels], who they had a good relationship efits. Although the mentors don’t regularly judging of people and it’s nice to be part of a with, who the teacher was who should be p e r f o r m , program the mentor for north. And he suggested “It’s nice to be a part of a program that’s so that’s so they get to me,” Daniels said. pro-lovAfterwards, Lang and Rollins had E- see a whole pro-loving and accepting of each other” different asing and mailed Daniels explaining who they were pect that the students may not see. accepting of each other and I think that’s and what it was they were trying to do. “I feel like it’s especially because there’s such an amazing and rare thing, ” Daniels They talked for a while discussing details; one thing led to another and now she is a so much putting each other down all the said.
What keeps you involved in movement 515? “I feel it is my duty to keep the flame lit and bring energy and hype to the movement so others will join and pass the torch” -Russhaun Johnson
The Movement 515 squad gets together for a Tuesday workshop in Daniels room to improve their poetry pieces. Photo Credits: Mya Alexander
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Mr. Cody Johnson’s Life George Makalu, Reporter This story is about Mr. Cody Johnson,when he was in high school,he always wanted to be a lawyer but he didn't get to be one because he didn't see what was fun to be in law classes or to be a lawyer. when he went to college and he chose to be a history teacher. that is how he became a teacher . In high school,Mr. Johnson used to be with many different of friends in high school ,when he was 17 he told his parents he want a car cause when he was 17 he always want to be more popular and to be better than other students .that was like his thing and he used to be in track and in the track is where he became more popular because he was faster. When Mr. Johnson went to Michigan he went with his friends because he had a friend who used to live in Michigan and his friend asked him to go with him to Michigan but Mr.Johnson parents didn't want him to go because the thought Michigan is the most dangerous part but he explained to them and they let him to go, so he stayed in Michigan for five year and he came back to Iowa and started to
this picture is about mr.jonson how he work hard and how he explain students something important and how he try to make sure exactly students understand him and focus on him that is the most imporatant
go to college at drake university. At drake university is where he met one girl who is now his wife but they didn't see each other a lot because everyone was busy. but the first time when he saw her he ask for her Facebook name so they stared to text on the Facebook like a year and in the Facebook is where the promised each other they will be together forever if the trust each other. Mr. Johnson now he has two kids and he always prays to be a good father to them ,he always wants to make them happy but sometime when he come to school and when he had a lot things to do he doesn’t get a lot of time to be with them. but something time Mr.Johnson work hard to take care for all of those things when he try to make student to understand him and to make his kids to listen to him because he think since he became a teacher he always yelling and that make him to be a most stronger person ,,because he work with different people in his life .
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HOW BREWER CAME ABOUT HER DREAMS Brewer teaches students a Spanish culture to help their everyday lives.
Melanie Carmenatte, Reporter Rosana Brewer, a Spanish teacher at North High School, has loved teaching for as long as she remembers. Her life from Brazil is similar and different from her life here. Brewer’s life consists of teaching young students about the Latino culture. Brewer teaches Heritage Spanish, AP Spanish 4 and 5 and Spanish 2. She has come to North High because of the equal relation it has to Brazil. They both have diversity, which she adores, mainly because it has a whole lot of Latinos walking around in the hallways speaking Spanish, which is what happens in Brazil. The huge group of Latinos reminds her so much of Brazil. Her influences for becoming a teacher are her family members; her mother was a PE teacher, her father also worked in the education program. Brewer’s role models and great teachers assisted her in times where she wasn’t doing so good in school. “I had great teachers that make a bunch of differences in my life,” Brewer said. Though there are some down sides to teaching, dealing with the disrespect, she thinks students
should appreciate their teachers because of the challenges they put the students through and how much affection they have for them. Brewer wants them to be ready for college and life so they know the problem they will head to. She also wishes that students would have their technology apart from their studies. She knows that technology can be used for helping students learn, but when teaching a lesson there are too many to count. Even through everything, she wouldn’t know what other profession she would do. “My job dream is being a teacher, I don’t know what to do if I wasn’t a teacher,” she mentioned passionately. Her son, an 8th grader, plays many sports like basketball, soccer and swimming. Knowing about her Brazilian culture a lot, Brewer speaks the language at home, so he is more familiarized with everything she has grown up in. Her son helps other students with their Spanish. He’s taking Spanish for the first time this year and it’s his best subject. She adores her son so much that her goal in
Brewer holds up a Brazilian flag to show her pride in her country. Photo Credits : Melanie Carmenatte life is to see him go to college and find a profession he truly loves. “Sometimes 14-year-olds are tough to deal with, but most of the time he is very responsible, respectful, and caring, because he help a lot of his friends,” she said. She wants to adopt a Latino child to experience this all over again. Which will give her a
chance to not feel so home sick. “I had my parents and all my family and all my friends from Brazil and the only thing that was hard living in the U.S is, I don’t have all my family and my friends,” She said. “I don’t have my culture here.”
Fun Facts Box
Brewer works with a freshman student, Jizet Vazquez, on her presentation for Heritage Spanish. Photo Credit : Melanie Carmenatte
-Played soccer in Brazil. -Wants to adopt a Latino child. -Has a fun, crazy personality. -Mother was a P.E. teacher. -Hates the cold. -Husband from Iowa. -Taught in Brazil.
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DC Smith, Taking the challenge out of Dyslexia.
DC Smith showing the true colors of his creative side. Photo Credit: Gabby Hernandez
Gabby Hernandez, Editor Art and Photography teacher overcomes the obstacles with a creative mindset. Before becoming an art and photography teacher at North High School, Dwight C. Smith said he faced a hurdle in his childhood that defined his life tremendously. “At a young age, I was defined as Dyslexic. That defined my life completely.” Dyslexia is a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically impairs a person’s ability to read. Often this learning disorder is first noticed at a young age in school; Smith was identified as dyslexic at a young age. This learning disorder continued to affect Smith even in his college years. “I started college in com-
puter engineering. I had some problems with my learning disability and after a year, it was apparent that there were things I couldn’t do because of it.”
“That defined my life completely.”
look at things differently.” With his art major, Smith has taught at various colleges, middle schools, and finally landed a job teaching art and photography at North High School.
Facing this hurdle has only made Smith stronger and the successful teacher he is today. While being a teacher, Smith enjoys online gaming and being the loving father to three kids.
However, Smith did not give up because of his learning disability. Instead, he reevaluated the given circumstances and came to the conclusion of switching his major from computer engineering to art. Smith said as a kid, he was always inquisitive about how things work, which helped him finalize his major change. “I was always interested in ‘What are the processes, What makes something how it is, a wide variety of interests.’ Because I liked to figure out how things are done, it helped me be creative and to
cessing; when they make a jump from being able to one thing then transfer it to another thing. Just being able to see the growth of the students as they progress through my classes.”
“I like to go to their events like their soccer events and the activities they are involved in.” As each day passes, Smith says what gives him motivation is his student’s progress. “The next piece of work around the bend, the next big thing that someone is doing improves how they’re pro-
With motivation from his family and his students, Smith does not let this learning disability take over and he carries on with life. “it is very gratifying to be able to help students along the way.”
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Mr.Klein
How his life characteristic. Paw Kmui, Reponer
work with kids and allows them to work with their hands. The motivates he has and teachs every day because he comes in and work with kids . Every day is different, never know what expect have a job is nice getting paid in two weeks have insurance so is good motivation. The teacher before him retired so able was to come to North. His childhood affected him in who he is today. is his parents have a good work ethic, so he came to work every day try to work hard with kids. The time he felt challenged is every day bring in about the challenge students sometime they ask how best to get things done in class challenge for the kids, how to get the project done, working with tools, working safely.
Eric Klein. He is the technology teacher right now. He likes to work with kids in school and get chance to be around with young people. also he never gives up that he can give to his children and students. He loves to work in wood shop. He father also works in a wood shop in his basement. Heis family is important. He has a girlfriend, and has two children. He in middle school one time the kids really made him to think twice about teaching so he change to be better. He likes North because he likes to teach wood shop, get a chance to logically have kids work withtuir hands, work on projects a lot through the he thing love. The product they can take home. He likes work ing with kids here they can have a bunch of success. He has two daughters, one The time he almost gave 16- year- old and other one up but didn’t give up yet besoon will be 13 years old. cause he has the challenge He really enjoys being a teacher because he is able to ing group in middle school
Photo Crate; Paw Kmui. Mr. Klein is the wood shop teacher and he helps the students in class. He’s a really nice teach. one time and then they really made him think twice about wanting to come and teach, but he changed the way he went about things, probable about 15 years ago. He changed for the better. His work with kids is fun, he hope for young people coming and have success. The hardest experiences as a teacher a challenges when kids come in and don’t want to learn. It’s a challenge to get them interested to do work and pass the class. His father taught him to never give up and that he can give hope to his children and students.
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Kerr Strives for Success Breana Petersen, Editor John Kerr is a geometry teacher, who enjoys what he does. He’s gone through so much to get to where he is. He wants to have a positive impact on his students and he wants them to learn more from him than just math. Kerr and his wife have nine foster kids, so he understands how teenagers work. Having an abusive father made it hard for Kerr to grow up. Despite that he still managed to be successful. “I come from a very dysfunctional family. My father was very abusive and kicked me out when I turned 15. I lived on the streets for two years. In my senior year my classmate and I shared an apartment until we graduated,” Kerr said. Kerr’s childhood taught him many lessons. It shaped him into the person he is today, teaching him never to give up. “My childhood taught me to never give up, that I could always find a way to change my circumstances,” he said. Serving in the service as a nuclear engineer and weapons officer, Kerr had different jobs that included guard duty and some special OP duties. His time in the service taught him that he wanted to do something that matters and he wanted to help others. “There was a time in the service when I struggled really hard. I kept telling myself that what I was doing mattered and that what I was doing would make my life better. Knowing that I was serving, I knew that I was making; at least I hoped I was making lives better for people back home. So I
stayed after it,” he said. He wanted to be a teacher to have impacts on teenagers and teach them that they can change their life. “I felt that being a teacher would help me have some sort of impact, that hopefully would be a positive impact. To help teach young teenagers that they can change the course of their life. They don’t have to end up in certain situations just because someone says so. They can take control,” Kerr said. He loves to see the way students’ brains work through problems and how they get when they work through it. It’s one of the reasons Kerr wants to teach. “I enjoy it. I really enjoy it when I see students that struggle with something and then they get it,” he said. Kerr has to keep his students motivated. Teaching a subject like geometry, where most students struggle, he has to stay as positive as he can. “I try to be as positive as I can, you know getting them to want to focus on what we are trying to learn instead of being on social media,” he said. The hardest thing to see as a teacher, according to Kerr, is to see a student fail even when you know you can help them. “To see a student fail when you know they can do better then that. To see them sit back and just accept that failure, like it was meant to be when you know it doesn’t have to be. That’s probably the hardest thing,” Kerr said. Being a teacher is constant progress and every day you
should want to achieve more than you did yesterday. “I would like to achieve more, but I am pleased with the progress I am making. I think being a teacher is constant progress, the day you quit making progress is the day you need to hang up the hat,” he said. Wanting to be a teacher is about helping students in the classroom and out, hopefully having a positive impact on their lives. “I hope to be able to make an impact on every student that I have in my classroom. I hope that impact to be positive. I hope that one day they can look back, like I look back, and be able to say you know Mr. Kerr did have my best interest at heart,” he said.
5 Fast facts about Kerr 1. Kerr is a grandpa and he loves it 2. Likes the old west 3. Used to have a farm 4. Has a ranch with cattle and he vis its them at least two weekends a month 5. Kerr served in the service
Kerr teaching N. Safi, 10th grade, inscribed angles
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Ms. Ramirez’s story
Ao Pai Oo, Reporter This story is about Ms. Ramirez. When she was a child she loved math because there was a teacher named mr.stone who taught her about math and made her excited about math. Now she became the math teacher and helps students become excited and fall in love with math the way Mr.stone teach her. Ms. Ramirez loves when students work hard. She tries her best for students. She is now a tennis coach and math teacher.
This picture is about Ramirez teaching student in algebra class and explaining things to students. Photo Credit: Ao Pai Oo
What I like about Ms. Ramirez is she’s a kind teacher and helps me with math. She is the teacher who makes me excited more and more about math.
Kirby Gilson before North High School By; Jordan Wilson reporter
Kirby Gilson, also known as Coach Gilson, went from being a business student at Buena Vista University of the top 10 percent. of his class to being a North High football coach and physical education teacher. Kirby Gilson grew up in a small town. He worked on a farm since he was in third grade. He said “He bought everything he owned from then on the only things his parents paid for him was the house and food he ate”. His dad was a teacher also. Gilson coached at Drake University. He said he comes to work everyday because “of the kids and being in a setting of working out everyday.” Coach Gilson was a business student, because his dad told him being a teacher wasn’t worth it and did not pay well. Gilson loves strength and condition training. Gilson had a membership to a country club. Coach Gilson worked on his farm and had a small class he graduated high school with. On his free time he likes to ride his exercise bike. After a while of help coach he realized that coaching and football and strength and condition training were his passion. He believes fitness is very important. He got his education classes while helping coach the offensive line and strength training at Buena Vista University. One of the biggest highlights of coaching at Drake was beating Iowa state. Achivments • Kirby Gilson has graduated high school as well as college. • When he coached at Drake, Drake beast Iowa State. • He has been working since he was in third grade. • He was in the top 10% of his business class. • He had a mebership to a country club.
Kirby Gilson in the gym telling kids how to get to the website Photo criedit Jordan Wilson background credit Buenavista website
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Mr. Sonntag
How his love for helping others got him the career he has today Reneeja Gross, Reporter Starting out, Sonntag’s first career choice was to not be a Physics teacher, he actually took EMT classes to become an EMT, but with him only being 18 he wasn’t old enough to legally drive. Becoming a doctor didn’t go well either, during his experience he watched a death occur and had to take the body down to the morgue, deciding that being a doctor wasn’t the best choice for him. Although both possible careers didn’t work out Sonntag learned many social skills from his experiences. Sonntag went to both DMACC and University of Iowa, he loved both colleges and made good friends at each one. The only regrets he had was not trying his hardest in his first two years of college. While earning his other majors, Sonntag realized helping classmates was something he enjoyed. He started taking teaching classes that paid him $300 and he decided it was something he was inter-
ested in. After applying to Des Moines Public Schools he got a call from Principal Vukovich to come and teach here. What motivates him the most is his family, and it is important for him to be able to provide for them. As a child he was poor but things eventually got better for him. Sonntag has already settled down here in Des Moines with his fiancé that he met in the seventh grade, that he dated for two weeks, but after nine years past they found each other and gave their love another chance. Now they’re planning on getting married in June. Becoming a teacher he hopes that choosing this career would help him provide for his future family. It’s currently Sonntag’s second year teaching at North High School and he views the students as “The funniest and most wonderful students in the world.”
Sonntag showing off his cool Chemistry skills to his students
FAST FACTS -2nd degree black belt in taekwondo -HaS 2 cats but is a dog person -Used to be a licensed EMT -Getting married this summer -Doesn’t like cheese
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Reminiscing on the Journey to Becoming a Teacher Mr. Franz embarks on how his interest in becoming a teacher came about and carried out. Robert Nishimwe, Reporter When you walk into the social science and studies hallway, you will see Mr. Franz standing right outside his room greeting students as they walk into their classrooms. Mr. Franz is a U.S. history teacher here at North High School, he takes great pride in the work that he does and hopes to do at this school. He relieved about the subject matter of history in high school and how that exact subject propelled his interest in teaching, “Mostly back in High School I was really in love with the subject matter of history and then I thought what better way to use history, than to become a teacher!” While in High School he took an Honors English class, and he thought coming into this class he was so prepared to Ace this class, and that was not the case. First semester of that class, he was failing, and to him it was like this thing of a surprise and disbelief but he didn’t let that stop him, he went on to setting up personal goals to start
getting A’s on class assignments and eventually went on to passing that class. It was moments and teachers like these whom he met along the way that guided him into wanting to be a teacher. He expressed so much about the role that his teachers played in his interest of education, “I had a lot of great teachers growing up, some of them I had much earlier on kind of propelled me in that direction, but I had a couple of fantastic ones in High School”. Although having set his mind on teaching, along the way he had some time to explore as to whether teaching was what he really should and wanted to do, “My freshman year of college I tried out linguistics cause I was really into languages for a time, then I thought about doing law at one point or politics, and then I kind of rescaled back on teaching when I started working a lot more with students and it was, like, oh this is what I really like doing” said Mr. Franz.
Mr, Franz getting prepared for his next class. Photo Cred: Robert Nishimwe effective AP program.... Teaching at North has but I would love to create been a pleasure for Mr. a program where the maFranz, he enjoys the coursjority of people who come es that he teaches and he takes great pride in wantinto my class leave my class and get threes, fours, and ing to do more. Being passionate about the school, fives on the AP test. That will take a few years to get to but oh, if I could make that here at North, I would be so happy!” He went on to express as to how having more unified goals University of Iowa, where Mr. around either technology Franz studied. itself or on materials for class is needed in order to Franz has set up some goals get closer to achieving this of his about what he hopes goal, while pointing out a and wants to accomplish lack of textbooks for all his at North, “I would love to students. eventually create a very
Fun Fact
USA Teacher’s’ median wage, Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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The Happiest Moments of Heidi Quinn Tasha Brown, reporter
Many people have a happy or exciting mo-
ment in their lives. It can be when you got married, met your best friend, or started a new job you really wanted. Heidi Quinn works at North High School in the ASL Lab as her job. Quinn thought about doing many things before teaching. Such as going into the medical business and Cosmetology, which is cutting and styling hair and giving pedicures and/or manicures, she never gave up on trying to do something that made her happy, even if it was difficult. “At first it was very hard but I knew I had to push through it. I love what I do and who I work with.” Quinn stated. Quinn has had many happy moments in her life like coming to North and teaching. But she has had many wonderful moments in life that she has shared with others. One of Quinn’s happiest moments was when she was a Senior in High School at Lincoln. Her and her Softball team were in the State Championship.
She says, “At my very last softball game at State as a Senior and at my school, Lincoln, we only ever won two championships ever.” She also was on the other team at one point, making it difficult for her to play. She was going against some people she knew, but that didn’t stop her. Quinn is also very happy and excited about many other happy moments in her life. Such as family, friends, and those moments they share together. “When all my kids were born. And I just went on vacation, that was a big exciting moment.” Quinn answered with a bright smile. She loves her kids, husband, and family very much. That is also something that makes her happy. Quinn has many happy moments in her life. She hopes to continue doing what she loves and makes her happy. Quinn has many happy moments, but this just happens to be one of her favorites. Many people have happy moments so in times of sadness, they can think of something better. For some it could be the time
you went to the beach, went to a sports game, or watching a movie with your family at home. A person always has a happiest moment and some are happy to share it.
FAST-FACTS! -Works in the ASL Lab - Used to play Softball - is a cheerful person
Heidi Quinn and JUllian Hanson, 18 years old, in the ASL Lab. Photot Credit: Tasha Brown.
Achive One Dream, Gain Another Susan Krantman has many dreams, some are yet to be fulfilled Viktoria Quinn: Reporter
A teacher’s end goal isn’t always met when they become a teacher. Most of the time, they want something more, something more fulfilling after they retire. North High School’s Susan Krantman is a prime example of this. After she’s done with teaching, she plans to open an animal rescue of her own.
“Coming from East and Lincoln, they’re the two biggest schools, North is a lot smaller... there is a kind of comradery that I find at North that I didn’t see at the other schools. Between students and between staff it has a more sense of community”.
Then comes her plan for after her teaching career is “Animals are really my calling... I fostered... I transport over. animals for the Midwest Dachsund Rescue.” “My bucket list is very long, lots of things on my bucket Owning animals herself, this makes her even more pas- list. There are so many places I haven’t visited in the sionate about helping animals as much as she can. Ev- world that I want to travel to, I also want to open up my ery story has a start, and Krantman’s starts during her own rescue when I’m done with teaching”. She said. childhood. She was brought up in an abusive household. The job you’re at now doesn’t necessarily end your career goals, your goals as a person. No matter your age “Its made me a more empathetic person... I can relate or interest, you can do it with just a dream and a plan. to most of the students here who are in that situation, unfortunately.” Krantman said. This empathy and her passion for life has made her more motivated to help others around her. Originally, Krantman wanted to work at PepsiCo headquarters as a coach in the exercise facility. Those dreams were crushed when she blew her knee in collage. This made her switch from Iowa State to Minneapolis where she became a fashion and eye model, getting a degree in fashion. Then she switched yet again to Buena Vista, getting her business and bachelors degree. She also has a masters in education degree from Drake. She was then lead to become a college teacher. Then she was hired by the district to teach at East. Then she taught at Lincoln for 13 years, before being moved to North. Upon arriving at North, she noticed a drastic change from other schools.
Susan Krantman at the vet with her Dachshund: Photo credit, Susan Krantman
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Mr.Schmidt juggles academic decathlon and graphic design
Mark Schmidt in the engineering and design classroom. Photo Credit: Faith Bosteder
Fast-Facts
He likes to go skiing with his family. he loves working North.
by: Faith Bosteder
Mark Schmidt is an engineering and design teacher at North High School. He loves his job here at North. Schmidt and his wife didn’t live in Iowa until his wife wanted to move closer to her family, so they moved to Iowa. Schmidt started working at North High School. He plans to stay here till he retires in 14 years. Schmidt would like to continue academic decathlon. “I’d like to continue with academic decathlon, have them actually win nationals, we’ve been working on online nationals but the true nationals we haven’t done, so I’d like to get that accomplished with that team.” Schmidt said. “ I’d like to have more classes DMACC certified, so that students can get more credits through DMACC, for example with graphic arts or cad drafting.” Schmidt said. He has always wanted to be a teacher, no matter what. He said “ I would be a teacher if I wasn’t a teaching in a high schools setting, I would be teaching maybe snow skiing in Colorado mountains in one of the resorts. But I think I knew from an early age that I’d be teaching in a classroom as well.”
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Kären Wignall:
A Wise, Inspiring and Strong Teacher BY: Gabriana Lovan, Reporter Kären Wignall is an 11th and A.P. chemistry teacher who has been through many struggles. However, she has managed to get through it all. A struggle Wignall has been through as a child was her learning disability. There were certain words she couldn’t comprehend. But she wouldn’t give up; she was very determined to figure it out. Another struggle she has faced was in college. She took a small engine class and she was the first female they had. Her teacher kept taking her engines apart between labs because she was the only female and she wasn’t from a farm. However, she went in and figured out what he did and fixed it. She wasn’t going to let him get to her. She got through her troubles by telling herself “All will be well”. It’s a way she got through things that really worried her. Wignall also has a thing or two that she regrets. She was the child who turned down family time and she wishes she could go back and make those memories with her family. When she went to Iowa State University, her parents pulled her out because she got a D in one of her classes and they thought she was least likely to succeed. So she went to a junior college and she went back and pushed herself
through. Although her parents thought she was least likely to succeed, she is the only one who graduated from college. “Put your cell phones away, put your media away, learn how to really think and really concentrate,” this is her advice to kids who have been through similar situations. She believes these students who are distracted by the internet can be really smart, superior and can succeed in their dreams. “If you’re passionate about something, you have to go after it. You have to put everything else behind. I hear kids in my A.P. class; when I give out homework and only two out of 16 kids brought it back finished, saying I don’t know how you find it in yourself to do it,” she said. Wignall is a teacher who says she doesn’t teach to be your friend but she still cares about her students education and where they’ll be in the future. She hopes that this generation and future generations take care of the environment. She also hopes they can follow what they are passionate about and be dedicated to it because it makes all the difference and joy in their lives. “Sometimes it takes a couple turns and you don’t always start exactly where you need to be but you’re willing to follow what your heart and head tell you what you’re able to do and not give up
Karen Wignall still manages to keep a big smile on her face. on those dreams,” she also still has a little hope for world peace. Wignall doesn’t think she’s any better or different than the other teachers but she has the ability to craft stories and help people process and get a better understanding of things. She’s also very dedicated to her job and she doesn’t want to stop learning . She doesn’t settle for just doing okay, she wants to make sure everything is all good. She also thinks North is a great place and it’s a special place for a lot of people, she said people don’t understand that until
they’re gone for a really long time. She said she wouldn’t be here for 26 years if she didn’t think North is special.
Karen Wignall is a passionate woman with a huge heart and she knows how to have fun with her students. Also she is someone you can trust, and she’s someone you can depend on.
Smith’s ‘Mountain Climb’ to Success
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Gage Hyde, Reporter Ms. Deana Smith is a very organized, ongame individual, who’s childhood molded her into the person she is today. Described as “a childhood that all teachers seem to go through”, Smith started her life in Germany, since her father was in the service at the time. Growing up, she landed in many different cities, including Newton, IA, Fort Dodge, IA, and even Topeka, KS. She eventually moved back to Des Moines, and graduated. Growing up in these places, Smith didn’t have a lot and she had it tough, which taught her patience. Smith was very prideful of her knowledge and drive for school, influencing her teaching career. As a teenager, things got a little rougher for Smith in her lifestyle. “I never could of seen myself working as a teacher, especially not in high school,” Smith claims. When she was a pre-teen, her parents divorced, forcing her to move to Kansas with her mother. Although she didn’t want to, it sparked Smith’s drive to teach. She started off subbing, but soon, an opportunity to actually teach opened. She wanted to teach in Iowa, but just in case, she put in other applications. Smith just so happened to get lucky, because soon she had North High calling her back. Smith is now in the middle of her third year in teaching at North High School. “Sometimes, three out of five days, I think it’s still surprising they pay me to do this,” Smith says. “Everyone has to learn what a bad decision is for themselves,” Smith believes. Like most teachers, Smith wants all students to understand that what they’re being taught is going to be useful for them in the rest of their lives. Smith has her fair share of difficult things to observe in her students. One of the most disheartening things for Smith, is to witness a student with potential, but flushing it all down the toilet. Smith believes people should be constantly motivated, and invest in their education, so they can get what they drive for
Smith stands out among the staff at North High, due to her wild choice in hair color. Photo Credit: Gage Hyde
in their future. Before Smith got the dream job of teaching, she had a career in a full-service restaurant. Smith wanted to further her education, so she left and went back to college. She hopes for a second masters degree. During this time, many other opportunities were open. At one point, she got an offer for a career in Scotland. She was trying to take the career, but they had to give it to someone else. Smith then had a small downfall, explaining that at that point, she felt frustrated and not good enough that they took away an opportunity that good. Soon enough, Smith got a call from North High School, getting her to where she is today. In her future years, Smith still plans on being here at North, alongside losing 20 pounds and having the skill of photography. She also plans on having a new crazy hair color. “..Its a great day to be a Polar Bear!”
Fast Facts: •Smith enjoys collecting fox objects, including small statues. •Smith also loves computer gaming, with one of her favorites being World of Warcraft. •Smith is introverted, meaning she tends to feel more comfortable by herself. •Smith was also a hardcore band kid, mastering the trumpet. She took part in the high school color gaurd as well. •Smith was originally going to be an English teacher, but after taking a math class, she changed her mind almost immediately.
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Christa Kordik
Getting pulled to North Aliza Lu , reporter
Christa Kordik, a math teacher, starts her first year at North High and falls in love with North’s vibe. Christa is from Chicago and came to Des Moines to attend Drake University. She did her student teaching at Lincoln and liked working in the district. Her plans where to go back home but she kept on getting pulled back to the Des Moines Public school district. “I thought about going home but I really keep getting pulled to the Des Moines area again. I had an interview and just fell in love with the school, the administration and the goal that North had in mind for everybody.”. she said. It was during sophomore year of high school she stated to focus on being a teacher. Her second option was to work in physical therapy due to her past. She knew if she became a physical therapist they would pay more than being a teacher but, she wanted to enjoy work every day as being a teacher she knows she will
Christa Kordik helping Eddy Carreno a Junior at North. Photo Credit:Aliza Lu
enjoy every second of it. Since this is her first year at North, she of course struggled being the newbie, but it’s not much of a problem. “Honestly it’s the students, I wake up everyday and I’m like, “Okay it’s another day “its also the way that the students learn it’s interesting, like, you might not get it today, but the next day it finally clicks.” Besides her being a math teacher, after school she is a soccer coach. It was after volley ball season
was over, Christa was asked to become a soccer coach, but even for her love of soccer, she would rather be a teacher. “I love soccer and everything but I feel I can encounter more kids though being a math teacher than a small amount of girls at soccer, and I’m kind of a nerd like last night doing math problems for fun. At North, Christa wants to improve her teaching skills and maybe get in to administration in the future. While being a math
teacher,Christabuilds new relationships with her students andco-workers.
FAST-FACTS
-A math teacher at North -From Chicago -Loves soccer -Wants to get in to administration
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The teacher before the classroom
Chris Cyran: The special education instructor at North
Samantha Veigulis, Reporter
Chris Cyran is the special education instructor at North, and has been teaching for 16 years, four of which were at high school level. His hobbies include gardening and crafting, and he has done quite a lot of traveling. Cyran has always wanted to teach, and he feels that his teachers were the most influential on his life. He believes that with the right support, students can do anything. “To be a part of an exciting team of students and teachers who want to help you as students become as successful as possible. So you can leave this place having choices, having options, so you’re not limited in your capabilities or your possibilities,” he said. His most used and received advice is, “don’t be a conformist. Don’t worry about fitting in, just be yourself. “
“People would say to the effect of, ‘don’t worry about what other people think or say about you, think about yourself and you know what you are.’ Be true to yourself. “
When he described himself as a young adult, he said he was responsible and independent. He often was the responsible one in his group of friends, and was the designated responsible driver.
as having this huge extended caring family, which was really unique. My godfather built me a treehouse in my backyard, and I would climb up there and take adventures around the world,” he said. While in college, he changed his major to teaching after worrying about whether he would enjoy religious studies, his first major. His advice on getting through rough times is as follows: “I think I got through the struggles by not avoiding them, by going through them. I got through struggles by acknowledging I needed help. I got through struggles by willingness to not give up if I had failed,” he said
“I was lucky, I was very trusted by my parents, I got my drivers license on my sixteenth birthday, and three weeks later I was driving halfway across the US. So I was an independent sort, I liked adventure, my parents trusted me, and you don’t hear about students doing that that much anymore, it’s a different climate we live in,” he said
Cyran’s passion is helping students learn, and with 16 years of experience and counting, he doesn’t plan on quitting soon.
Cyran said that the influence from his family had a large affect on his life as well. There was a lot of positive energy between him and his family that helped his imagination grow as a child.
Hobbies:
“My parents always had a lot of friends and I had a lot of people who were aunts and uncles. I didn’t realize that they weren’t actually aunts and uncles, but my parents brought the adults who were their friends into our family... But they were just my parents’ friends but I had saw myself
“Knowing that I have a purpose, knowing that I can have an impact, knowing that I can significantly make a student feel supported and encouraged, but what motivates me is seeing students learn, seeing students act on their own.” -Cyran enjoys gardening, crafting and reading. -Cyran started a four year degree in religous studies, but later decided to go into teaching.
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Every day is a challenge, but Lisa Klein is ready to conquer. Rosemary Galdamez, Reporter A daughter, a wife, a mother, a twin, Lisa Klein is all this and more. At North High School students may know her as Coach Klein, who teaches mostly regular physical education and The Psychology of Fitness and Health, which is based on a course once offered by the University of Northern Iowa. Klein became a teacher because teaching brought all her passions together: working, helping and talking with people. Another reason why she decided to become a teacher was because in her Junior year of high school she had the help
of her teachers and coaches to get through tough times. She wanted to give back and become a teacher herself. At the end of this school year she will have been teaching for 21 years. Although some students may think she is mean due to the high standards to which the students are held, she tries to have conversations with her students and understand their situations. “I think I try to take a perspective of, you never know what’s going on in that student’s life. You never know what’s happened to that person last night or Klein, middle, with her class The Psychology of Fitness & Health, at the track getting her students’ running times. Photo Credit: Rosemary Galdamez the week before or whenever,” Klein said. hood is where Klein grew up. She The more you She considers attended Oak Park, Harding and herself as one of those then North, where she graduated know about Lisa who shouldn’t have from in 1987. She then graduated Klein! made it through college, from Simpson College. Richard but she used her dedication and Powell, a current teacher at North 1) Her favorite food is discipline to succeed. High, was actually one of her any kind of pasta. Klein believes education is free- coaches. dom, which is why she encourages Klein finds inspiration in her 2) During her free time students to stay in school and take running mentors. One of them is she loves to read. care of their GPAs. She also finds going to be 81 years old and Klein 3) She has a twin sister. physical education important for continues to see him on the trails. 4) If she had to choose her students. Klein has had other jobs such another career it would be “I just think about how kids as a park leader, an office clerk, a take better care of their cell waitress and has worked at a gas accounting, which is her phones than their own bodies. A station. Through all these there is twin’s career. lot of people think I run because no other job she would want to go 5) Sometimes she finds I want to burn calories. That’s the to. Klein loves coming to North herself cooking the same last reason I run,” Klein said. “The every day to see the students. food as her twin. first reason I run is just the mental “I just think that I’m lucky to part of it. Sometimes it’s the best be here. I can’t think of very many 6) She wants to run the part of my day.” other places or opportunities I Grandma’s Marathon in In the North High neighbor- would take.”
“I think I try to take a perspective of, you never know what’s going on in that student’s life.”
Klein in the track letting her students know the time they have left. PC: Rosemary Galdamez
Duluth, Minn.
The End