Teacher Influence Leads to Entering Profession

NEW SHARON – Teachers often never know if they had an impact on a student. They impart knowledge and inspire their students to reach for the stars. Former Sigourney student Melanie Steinhart is one of those who was inspired to join the profession.

Steinhart, a 2010 graduate of Sigourney High, is student teaching this fall in hopes of earning a spot in a middle school classroom. She spent eight weeks at Mid-Prairie before heading to North Mahaska in New Sharon. 

The classroom was not Steinhart’s first direction of travel. She earned a degree in Family Consumer Science at Iowa State. She did some substitute teaching and that is where the influence of her high school English teacher Jhonna Wallrich kicked in.

“My high school English teacher helped me get a major scholarship to Iowa State and was a huge impact on my life,” said Steinhart as she sat before a pile of mid-term assignments from her students. “I thought about being an English teacher but got involved in other things and received my consumer science degree.”

After spending time in the classroom as a sub, Wallrich’s voice began to ring in Steinhart’s ear and the nudge to return to school to pick up a secondary education and English endorsement sent Steinhart in a new direction. She will finish when she completes her student teaching with her degree from Buena Vista University.

“I really like middle school,” said Steinhart. “My first experience was all seventh graders. I enjoy sixth, seventh and eighth graders and everybody here has been so welcoming.”

Entering the teaching profession in the midst of a global pandemic might not be the most desirable but Steinhart is up for the challenge.

“It has not been as difficult as I may have thought,” said Steinhart. “I did not have as many in quarantine at Mid-Prairie as I have had here. Making connections with the kids who haven’t been here has been a challenge and it is just busy at mid-term.”

When not in the classroom Steinhart can be found at the Copper Lantern in Sigourney or doing a crossword or reading a book. Nor surprising the latter is a major part of her English DNA.

“Reading is my passion,” said Steinhart. “I like doing crosswords but it is the kids I like. My cooperating teachers have helped me understand that these kids are going through all kinds of things as middle schoolers. They go through so much and I want to be there to help them.”

Because of COVID-19 Steinhart has not made a concerted effort to seek out a full-time position but plans to do so this spring. The inspiration of one teacher a few years ago has changed the life of one student. Who knows which student(s) Steinhart may inspire?