January Teacher Feature: Mrs. Winters
Photo submitted by Mrs. Winters.
Evan Rosenau
January’s Teacher Feature is a Hamilton native, having graduated from Hamilton before moving onto UW-Green Bay and Concordia for her undergraduate and masters degrees, respectively. She’s been teaching for 16 years, all at Hamilton, and currently lives in Richfield with her husband and two children, Michael and Megan. She advises Best Buddies and assists with SAS on top of teaching; when she’s not passionately sharing math with her students, she is spending time outdoors, reading, or binge watching a TV series. Not to mention, she also loves doing early morning workouts, which she says helps fulfill her love of challenging herself and clears her head to start the day.
Read on to learn more about our January Teacher Feature:
What would students be surprised to know about you?
I grew up on a small farm where we raised beef cows and pigs. This is probably why I’m such a morning person as I was getting up early to feed animals when I was little.
Describe yourself in one sentence.
A math loving introvert with a big heart.
If you won 100 million dollars what would you buy first?
A large cabin in the woods. Teaching all day and then going home to two littles, everything is LOUD all the time. The woods are so peaceful to me and would give me a place to recharge.
What would your perfect room/ classroom look like?
Much bigger than our current rooms with whiteboards everywhere. All the expo markers and flair pens that money can buy. And tables - most desks are too small.
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
I would love to be able to go back and spend more time with my Grandma. She passed right when I graduated college and I wish I had more time to hear her stories. She was a mom to 9 kids, widowed, ran a farm and so many other things I want to hear about.
What book or movie would you recommend to your students?
Most books I read are crime/suspense books so nothing that has great meaning. How about a song - “Worth It” by Pop Evil
What is the best advice you have received?
Never pretend to be something you’re not - be true to yourself.
Are there more wheels or more doors in the world?
This question gives me anxiety and I am way too literal to try to come up with a coherent answer.
What got you interested in teaching?
I was one of those kids who played school when they were little and got excited about school supply shopping so I think it was pretty easy to see that I would end up as a teacher. Obviously I kinda like math and knew I could never be someone working in an office.
If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would it be?
Unfortunately we will all have some obstacles to overcome in life. You're going to have breakups, lose a job, make a bad financial decision. Don’t let it define you.
What weapon would you carry during the Zombie Apocalypse?
Bow and arrow. I’m way too chicken for up close combat so at least I could protect myself from a distance.
How have your previous teachers shaped your teaching style?
I’ve had a lot of teachers who really focused on building relationships with me and I would like to think I do that with my students also. Although I think math is pretty cool, some don’t share my love for it, but I still want to know about you as a person.
Could you see yourself as a middle school or elementary teacher? Why/why not?
Initially I wanted to be a middle school teacher until I did my student teaching. I quickly realised I don’t have nearly enough patience for the shenanigans that go on there.
Who are your teacher besties?
Wetherall is my “school dad.” He was my Discrete (essentially Pre-Calc 2) teacher and my track coach when I was a student at Hamilton. Now we are not only in the same department but also room neighbors. He has taught me a lot about what it means to be a good teacher but also is a pretty cool guy to hang around outside of school too.
