Meet Mrs. Rocans, our 5th grade teacher!

Mrs. Rocans - 5th Grade

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What made you want to become a teacher?
It was totally God’s plan for me to become a teacher. I had no intentions of being anything other than a mother and housewife. I graduated from high school and didn’t go to college right away. Instead, I got married and had my daughter and became a stay-at-home mom. 

When it was time for my daughter to go to school, someone told me about a Lutheran school and we decided to send her there. I started getting involved as a parent and became president of the PTA. We became Lutheran and I started thinking about going back to school. I went to college and the next thing I knew, I was a Lutheran school teacher! God just put things into place for me to become a teacher. Some people know their whole life that they want to be a teacher but for me, God decided that for me. God knew His plan for me. 

Was there a teacher that inspired you, and why? 
I was inspired by the way the teachers treated my daughter when we sent her to a Lutheran school. Her experience is really what touched me and made me want to become a Lutheran school teacher.

Is there a subject that you especially like to teach? 
I love teaching religion and sharing Bible stories with the students. 

What is the best advice you’ve received about teaching?
During my first year as a teacher I was teaching a very smart seventh grade class, and they spent the whole time trying to prove they were smarter than me. It was tough! The first year is always difficult. There was a very wise man teaching at the school along with me and he told me, “you can’t allow them to cause you to lose control.” He was a great mentor to me. I don’t think I would have come back the second year if it wasn’t for his guidance and advice. 

What did you miss the most about teaching in person during the stay-at-home order? 
During the stay-at-home order it was all of the work of being a teacher but none of the fun. I missed being with the kids in-person, doing devotions, and telling stories. I missed seeing the moments when they understood something. 
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What are you looking forward to at the start of the school year? 
Meeting the new students! Particularly this year, there are so many kids that I don’t know. I’m excited to meet the new kids and to get to know them. 

What do you like most about St. John’s?
I like the freedom that I have as a teacher here. I can teach the way I like to teach and that is a blessing.