“Being a young female educator can be daunting. I found myself challenged often, but the early years thickened my skin and solidified my teaching philosophy.”
Mrs. Michalek's philosophy of education is built on the proposition that growth and change are essential experiences for human beings, and she views our ability to adapt through learning as a universal requisite for success. Patte’s understanding of change as a constant and unavoidable force in all our lives has propelled her towards personal versatility. “I learned that when we become too comfortable, we stop learning and growing, and I never, ever, ever want to be known as a stagnant human being. And, I don’t want my students to become that.”
Mrs. Michalek's first years of teaching were a time of major personal and professional development. “It was a time of exponential growth for me, and while it wasn't always positive, I found myself learning and reflecting constantly, which is the why for me...why I teach, why I coach, why I know I made the right choice. This career is full of learning, mistakes, growth...and that's what life is about for me.”
Patte graduated from UW-La Crosse in May of 2010 with a degree in Secondary English Education and began teaching at La Crosse Central High School that fall. “I taught at Central for a year before moving to Cashton, where I also taught high school for ten years. I ultimately wanted to be closer to my family, so I applied at Hillsboro, my own alma mater. The memories and closeness of the community I grew up in were never far from my mind and heart, spurring my desire to return.”
The decision to return proved to have sweeping, generative impacts for Patte. “Hillsboro is where I found my love of learning. I think if I step back from my personal connections to it, however, it is progressive in the many programs it offers for such a small school: job shadows, tutoring, apprenticeships, mental health counseling, AP courses, online courses, etc. Overall, though, I feel that our school has soul. People here care, and they support each other. We feel each other's successes and failures, and we try to figure out problems together. It's a strong school community.”
Patte’s commitment to introspection and candid communication have earned Mrs. Michalek great respect amongst colleagues and students. “Being challenged made me reflect, and there's always value in that reflection. We don't take enough time to look past the frustration when we are challenged to see how those challenges can make us better people, better teachers, better colleagues.”
As she looks towards the future, Patte continues to refine her practice, “I really want to perfect the middle school curriculum to be a fluid, efficient continuum. I have spent most of my career as a high school teacher, so moving to middle school was culture shock (to put it mildly). My biggest passion is finding a book for each student. I consider myself really good at matching personalities to books, so as I read more young adult literature, I hope to continue fostering that love for reading.”
While much of Mrs. Michalek’s days are focused on developing students as writers, she continues to author her own story.
“I believe the story a person chooses to write for themself, the story of their life, is very powerful, and it connects a person to the communities he or she has lived in. Hillsboro has been and always will be written into the story of my life-- in the beginning and final chapters (I hope). I am thankful to be a part of this community and that my children are also learning what it means to be from this beautiful town.”
Photo Credit: Gem Elmer