Libertyville Teachers Excited About the New School Year

Becky Wickboldt remembers dreaming of becoming a teacher when she was just a little girl. 

"I loved my fourth grade teacher. I wanted to be just like her," said Wickboldt. This year will mark her seventh year as a teacher at Rockland School. She also served as a teacher's aide at Butterfield for a year. 

"I feel like I'm kind of living a dream," said Wickboldt.

Wickboldt and her colleagues at Rockland are ready for the 2013-14 school year to start. Students return to classes Aug. 21 in Libertyville District 70.

"I'm eager to just meet another enthusiastic group of third-graders," said Wickboldt. "They're so enthusiastic about learning at this age."

Nicole Lesniewicz is looking forward to starting her new adventure in teaching a different grade level. She'll be teaching fourth grade this year instead of fifth and can't wait to "see how the kids come in and just working work with them on that individual basis."

Lesniewicz has been a teacher for 14 years, with 12 at Rockland. She always enjoyed working with children when she was growing up and even served as a tutor while she was in high school. Leading up to this new school year, she has been meeting with her teams at school, decorating her classroom and trying to keep all of her materials organized.

This year will mark Stephanie Wilson's second year as a teacher at Rockland School. The fifth grade teacher previously taught in Woodland District 50 for eight years before taking time off to stay home with her children. She returned to the teaching world first as a substitute in District 70 before being hired as a full-time teacher.

She admits that just like students, she gets a little nervous at the start of each new school year.

"Aside from the mechanics of (starting the new year), you're just as nervous and excited as those kids," said Stephanie Wilson, fifth grade teacher at Rockland School. "I'm excited to meet the new students."

Wickboldt said she loves the start of the new school year "because I feel like I can start fresh and change what I didn't like about last year."

Wickboldt, Lesniewicz and Wilson all plan to make changes in their classrooms this year. 

Both Lesniewicz and Wilson plan to implement the "Daily 5" method in their language arts program, meaning there are five activities geared toward things like reading to others or reading to self. Lesniewicz said this allows students to have time with their teacher and time to work independently.

"We're constantly thinking about how to evolve and change," said Wilson. "The kids are different every year."

Wilson aims to create an environment where every child can be successful. She said it's important to get to know each student to see where he or she needs help.

Wickboldt plans to try a program called "The Leader in Me" in her classroom. The program, she said, helps students develop their leadership skills.