From her classroom, Allison Houzner is building a remarkable world.
“Kindergarten is really a magical place. The days are full of possibility."
After nearly a decade teaching kindergarten students at Hillsboro Schools, Mrs. Houzner says she couldn't imagine doing anything else. In high school, Allison had considered following in her mother’s footsteps and becoming an agriculture teacher. After attending a workshop held during the State FFA Convention on careers in education, Allison’s vision of teaching was solidified. And while she didn’t end up teaching agriculture, she did find her own calling as an educator. “I have been teaching in Hillsboro for my entire career. My first year, I was with first-graders, but since then I’ve been in kindergarten, and it’s felt like home.”
At the elementary school, Allison is an established and integral part of the community, respected not only for her work as an educator but for the compassion with which she approaches students and staff. Elementary Principal Lisa Gerke explains, “Mrs. Houzner is a kind, soft-spoken, and deeply caring teacher who makes every child feel seen, safe, and valued.”
Mrs. Houzner believes in the importance of teaching children to learn both about and from the world around them. "We work on the academic milestones we want our students to hit; learning letters, counting and writing numbers, being read to,” Houzner says. “But there are also the emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal skills that underscore the academics. At their age, social-emotional skills are so critical in their development. So, that’s a major part of our focus, because we understand the impact those skills have on their future health and well-being.”
Mrs. Houzner's approach emphasizes fostering self-esteem in her students, so they feel confident enough to tackle challenges and recover from disappointment when it inevitably arises. Her classroom focuses on cooperative learning, how we can work with others, take turns, and share. “A big part of my job is to focus their curiosity, so they can engage with learning naturally. We mix formal and informal activities so students can gravitate towards their innate inclination for play-based learning.”
These strategies lay the framework for a student's successful journey through the K-12 school system, but they are not enough on their own. Allison understands that it’s always the people behind the process that ultimately make the difference. “And, we have the best staff. Every single member of this school cares about kids and works really hard to make sure each student can be successful.”