Richard teaches RHES with grade

Mrs. Rylee (Opfer) Richard is a new fifth grade teacher at Rock Hills Elementary School. She grew up in Seward, Nebraska, but moved to Beloit from Manhattan. Richard has been going to the Lovewell area with her family for as long as she can remember so teaching in Mankato held interest for her. She and her husband of one year, moved to Beloit at the end of May. They have one child on the way with a due date in March.

Richard received her bachelor's degree from K-State. This is her third year teaching, but the first year of teaching fifth grade. Her first two years of teaching were in the fourth grade at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary in Manhattan. Richard has been involved with daycares since high school. "I'm the oldest of five. I think that kind of paved the way for my career," Richard said.

Richard is responsible for lesson planning, punctuality and activity plans that make learning fun. "I have to be flexible," Richard said. "If one day we are working on math and a student starts having a bad day, we have to stop. Students' emotions and being regulated are the most important because if they aren't regulated, they won't learn well."

Richard is most looking forward to relationships that will be formed this year. "That's one thing I pride myself on is the building of relationships," Richard said. "I'm excited for this new group of students...I don't know them, they don't know me, but by the end of the year we'll know each other really well."

Richard said the students are who gave her the passion for teaching. Her mom works in the school system as a speech pathologist and she had teachers who helped feed her teaching passion. Mainly it is the students that inspired her to become a teacher.

Richard enjoys sports, whether it is watching or playing, volleyball is her favorite. She also enjoys board games and card games. She wants our community to know she's excited to learn more not only about her students, but about others in the community as well. "I have enjoyed getting to know my students and the staff here at Rock Hills. They have all given me a warm welcome and I look forward to continue building those relationships. I also enjoy the small town and the community support."

When asked what advice she had for people wanting to become teachers, Richard said, "Teaching is something you really have to be passionate about. I'd say if it is something you're on the fence about, rethink it because teaching is not for everyone. It is really just about having the joy in students in the day to day things. If you don't have that joy, then I don't think it's for you."