Meet Mrs. Mayrens, our 3rd grade teacher!

Mrs. Mayrens - 3rd Grade

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What made you want to become a teacher and what brought you back to St. John’s after being a student here?
My 6th grade teacher was my inspiration for becoming a teacher. 

I taught at St. John’s earlier in my career in preschool but I realized I liked teaching older students, specifically third grade. I taught at a few different schools before coming back to St. John’s later in my career. I was teaching at a Lutheran school in Indiana when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I’m an only child so I knew I needed to come back to Chicago to help out. St. John’s had an opening in third grade so God put me here. I was fortunate that this position was available.  

Was there a teacher growing up that inspired you, and why?
My sixth grade teacher was an example of an amazing teacher for me. I saw how much he loved teaching and how much he cared about us as students. 

Is there a subject that you especially love to teach?
I love reading and discussing stories and why characters do what they do. 

​What did you miss the most about teaching in person during the stay-at-home order?
I missed getting to know the kids. We were fortunate that we had the first half of the year to get to know them, but we missed so much during the second half of the school year. I also missed seeing them interact with each other. Working together is a major part of my classroom, and it wasn’t the same over Zoom. 

What are you most looking forward to at the start of the year?
I am looking forward to learning how to teach in a new way. I learned how to use new technology really quickly during the shelter-in-place order. I am excited to incorporate some of the new technology I learned during this coming year. 

What is the best advice you’ve received about teaching?
My cooperating teacher when I was a student teacher told me, “The day you stop learning, is the day you stop teaching.” There’s always more you can do to be a better teacher. 

What do you like about St. John’s?
I have such fond memories from when I went to school here. I like the community of St. John’s. The teachers work well together and there’s a sense of teamwork between the teachers and parents. We are also fortunate to have a church congregation that supports the school.