Therese Netzer, English teacher at Albert Lea high school, puts her student’s needs before her own. She has been thinking of making cards for her students in the class of 2018 to leave them a quote for them to remember.
“You need to be the author of your own life,” Netzer said. “You’ve had quotes your whole life from other people but now it when you start putting it together and carve out your own path.”
Netzer was an Albert Lea high school graduate in the class of 2003. She later attended Minnesota State University- Mankato and then graduated from Southwest Minnesota State. Netzer is inspired by her students, friends and family. Netzer credits Neil Skaar for motivating her to become a teacher as well as her desire to learn more. She been working at Albert Lea high school for 4 years teaching in the English department and enjoys it.
“I love getting to know all my unique students” said Netzer. “They make my job so fun! I also love English, and it is a dream to teach what I love to kids.”
Netzer works hard every day for her students who inspire and motivate her. She loves teaching English because of the depth and importance of it.
“I love English because it teaches powerful life lessons,” Netzer said. “Class can be really personal and meaningful, and we get to have deep conversations about things that matter.”
Students admire her humility, genuineness and the way she cares for her students not only in school. Senior Jenna Seavey, a student of Netzer of two years cherishes the way Netzer cares for her students.
“She genuinely cares about each and every student she has,” Seavey said. “If you don’t have your homework she ask you how she can help you in any way possible.”
Senior Brandon Kiehm was in Netzer’s World Literature class. He enjoyed how she draws emphasis on not only the curriculum but real life circumstances. Especially how she, despite the difficult curriculum, creates a warm and welcoming environment for her students every day.
“She was a real person and not just going through the motions of what she taught,” Kiehm said. “She always made it clear there was no judgement towards your ideas or thoughts when doing large group discussions.”