As summer comes to an end and school starts to roll around, all students wait for their schedules to upload. Some students worry about socializing and making new friends, while others are nervous to see what teacher they get. But as students open their schedules and notice the name “Wendi Baus-Herbin” written beside their math class, they start to feel excited.
At Southeast High School, Baus-Herbin is loved among all students. Her popularity is well-deserved, as she brightens the classroom with her bubbly, friendly personality. Her compassion for students is what sets her apart from other teachers.
Recently, Baus-Herbin won Teacher of the Month in January. Students at Southeast were ecstatic to vote for her so that she would be recognized for the positive impact she has had on Southeast.
Lexi Velgersdyk, a senior at Southeast, shared her thoughts on Baus-Herbin. “Herbin is always super approachable and I always felt really comfortable with her,” Velgersdyk said. “I never feel bad for asking her those stupid questions.”
Baus-Herbin never fails to make students feel safe. She creates an environment that is welcoming and friendly. When students face complications, they always know they can rely on her because she cares about them, as people, before anything else. However, building connections with students wasn’t easy at first.
During the first year of teaching, Baus-Herbin spent her time perfecting her notes that went along with her detailed lesson. But soon, she realized none of that mattered if students weren’t ready to learn. If students don’t feel respected, they have no desire to put forth the effort. As Baus-Herbin started to understand, her perspective changed.
Every day when Herbin comes into class, she wants to put the person before the student. The kid before the grade.
“I think my focus was on mathematics and now my focus is on the individual student,” Herbin said.
Baus-Herbin noticed that showing respect to the student is what matters most. If students are having problems at home or conflicts with a friend, they may not even want to come to school. They don’t want to listen. But when a teacher can be there for support, that means everything to the student.
Baus-Herbin chose to be a teacher because she loved seeing kids have an “aha” moment. Kids only have fun with learning, when they actually want to be there. By helping them face their challenges, they can focus in class, learn the material and have many “aha” moments that will bring them happiness.
That was the exact reason Baus-Herbin chose to become a teacher. But her reason for choosing to become a math teacher is even more intriguing.
Baus-Herbin chose to teach math, the class many students find the most demanding and difficult.
“I realized that math, traditionally, [is something] people tend to struggle with and it keeps people from doing what they want to do in life. I don’t think that should happen, “ Baus-Herbin said.
As students move through high school, some classes may never be easy for them. For many people, it’s math. This type of class may interfere with how you see yourself. Some may think they’re stupid. Others may think their aspirations will never come true because there was a small setback.
Baus-Herbin didn’t want students to feel that way and that’s why she wanted to teach math.
Oliver Locken, a sophomore at Southeast, has never found math an easy subject. As long as he can remember, he’s struggled in the subject. But Baus-Herbin personalized explanations and examples for Locken to understand. Locken emphasized that one-on-one teaching was able to get him through math to succeed.
For Locken, Baus-Herbin is different from other teachers. “She is able to help you figure out what you need to do on a more personal level,” Locken said.
Baus-Herbin guides her students along a path that allows them to become successful within the class as well as in the future.
But as Baus-Herbin got into teaching, there were some things she wasn’t prepared for.
“When I was doing my student teaching, my practicums, all of that, they did not talk about classroom management or organizing yourself as a teacher, “ Baus-Herbin said.
Classroom management and organization are vital to teaching. Without it there would be no consistent plan or stability with students. Baus-Herbin had to learn this and quickly readjust, but it caught her by surprise because it was never brought up.
Baus-Herbin has persevered through any obstacle thrown her way and has consistently made her classroom a space where everyone feels welcome. Her teaching is favored within Southeast’s community. Any teacher could benefit from learning a bit from Baus-Herbin.
She has had a positive impact on the math department and made student’s experiences at Southeast valuable. She is the reason why students feel respected, seen and guided.
