Mrs. Rathsack, a chemistry and anatomy teacher of 31 years, is retiring this year, and the students of Wyoming High School are sad to see her go. “I’ll miss her a lot.” Sophomore Sofia Barajas-Gutierrez said. “I’ll miss having her class, and hearing her daily quotes. She’s made a big impact on my life.” Mrs. Rathsack has left an impact on the student body, and it’s necessary to acknowledge her for her support in this school over the years.
As a teacher, you must always evolve to meet the needs of your students, as all students are different and will subsequently learn in a manner of different ways. Mrs. Rathsack is fully aware of this requirement and makes sure that she supports her students in whatever way she can, whether it’s changing her teaching style or switching up lectures or labs depending on the group. “We used to do a lot more lecturing,” she said. “ I do labs more than I used to. I used to go a lot faster, but it changes over the years. I adapt for the students.”
Despite her skill in it, Mrs. Rathsack didn’t even consider teaching when first attending college, as she was a biology major that instead went back to school for her teaching degree. Once completed, she became a teacher at a school on the east side of the state at a school named Marion, an all girls catholic school. Mrs. Rathsack became a teacher here at Wyoming because she wanted to move back to the west side, leading her to schedule many interviews with many different schools in this radius. Wyoming though, was her ultimate decision and it’s not one that she regrets. “One of the first things that I noticed when I started here was that students were just nice to each other.” Mrs. Rathsack says. “The students here are just always very appreciative.”
In spite of her hesitance in becoming a teacher, science has always been her passion. Ever since Junior High, Mrs. Rathsack has really enjoyed the scientific aspects of her academic journey. One big influence in her journey to becoming the scientist she is today are the science teachers of her life. “I really liked all of my science teachers.” Mrs. Rathsack explains. “They were just the funny, cool, silly ones.”
Although she is primarily a chemistry teacher, that is not Mrs. Rathsack’s only passion when it comes to science. She has advocated for a genetics class in this school ever since she started the job, as she taught genetics at her previous school in Marion. “My first three years of teaching, I taught a genetics semester class.” Mrs. Rathsack said. “I would have loved to have had that here.”
Mrs. Rathsack’s retirement is imminent, but what will she do after that final day? Mrs. Rathsack, ironically, hopes to score a job after retirement. “Ideally I will have a job that’s remote and hopefully it will be either full time, or part time and then I would also come in to sub,” Mrs. Rathsack explains. “The bottom line is, I’m not sure yet.”
Being a teacher though, is what Mrs. Rathsack loves, and leaving will not be easy. Mrs. Rathsack thrives on making connections with the students and she finds it hard to leave after helping so many students over her 31 years of teaching. Although she has accepted the reality of retirement, that won’t make the action any easier. “I’m having a really good year, I really like my students, and what I’m teaching,” she said. “But, we need newer teachers. We really do. I think it’s time to switch it up.”
As a seasoned educator, Mrs. Rathsack knows her way around teaching and how to deal with students in all sorts of different situations. A new teacher, on the other hand, won’t. Therefore, Mrs. Rathsack has some words of advice for any prospective teachers here at WHS. “Utilize the older teachers in your department, and network with teachers from other schools in our area,” Mrs. Rathsack advises. “Teachers that teach the same subjects go to conferences, so make sure to attend because you really learn a lot at the teacher conferences.”
Mrs. Rathsack has changed the lives of many at this school, and her retirement won’t change the legacy she has ingrained into the walls of this school.