JoEllen Pruis, Hoover Middle School

Position: 6th Grade Math Teacher

Years Teaching: 29 years

Hobbies/Interests: I love ALL flowers, gardening, and my lemon tree that comes indoors every October through May.

What do you enjoy most about teaching? What I enjoy most about teaching are my students, and the relationships that I build with them throughout the school year. I truly love coming to school every single day.

What do you find the most challenging about teaching? The most challenging thing about teaching is finding time to get it all done. Teaching is a lot of work, and even after all of these years, I still put in bunches of extra time outside of school to do what I do.

Best tip for new teachers: Building relationships with ALL of your students will make your school year so much easier. Take time to get to know them and allow the students to get to know you.

Best tip for career teachers: What worked for us then might not work for us now. Be open to change and willing to continue to grow.

Favorite piece of advice for students: Don't be afraid to make a mistake. A mistake is proof you are trying.

What being a Gold Star Teacher means to you: I am thankful for the honor of being chosen as a Gold Star teacher. I was born and raised in Waterloo, and I have spent most of my 29 years teaching in Waterloo. I am so very proud to be a teacher in Waterloo and to be recognized for the positive impact I have had on many students at Hoover MS. I so appreciate the opportunities the WCSD has provided me, so that I can continue to grow as an educator.