Get to know the new teachers

This year, many new teachers joined Sunrise. Here is a brief interview with each of them. 

Katlin Verschoor, Math

Q: What is your favorite memory from high school?

A: Probably senior year, all in general, because I was a part of Student Government, I was nominated for homecoming queen, I was captain of my Varsity (Basketball) team, I got accepted into college, and it was the moment where it was my peak.

Q: What was the most important thing you learned in high school?

A: One of the most important things is ‘don’t get caught up in the popularity’. It’s not as important as everyone thinks it is. I was popular because I didn’t try to be popular. I enjoyed going to school. I enjoyed getting good grades. I enjoyed playing sports. And, I think it’s not letting distractions get in the way. Because, high school is nothing compared to college. College is where you really see who you are, what you really are.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time, I like to watch sports. I still play them from time to time. I like to play cards. I enjoy sitting on the couch and vegging out. But, I’m also a workaholic, and free time is never even free time.

Mateusz Wisniewski, Photo

Q: What is your favorite memory from high school?

A: Well, I played soccer, and I was on the JV squad. I was goalie, and being part of a club was really important for me. So, just tying in what you like with school and having your relationships with your fellow students is a really important part (of high school). And, also, I had a great art teacher, and he really inspired me. Just going to his class was fun.

Q: What was the most important thing you learned in high school?

 A: Once again, be involved with a club or something, because you really get to grow, you get to meet new people.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Ha, free time. If I ever have free time, I like to make the classroom a better place, I decorate the classroom.  And after that’s done, I obviously like photography and art. I’d say I do a lot of art in my free time.

Patty Arkin, Math

Q: What is your favorite memory from high school?

 A: When we won the state championship for softball.

 Q: What is the most important thing you learned from high school that you would like to pass on to students?

 A: To be organized and to enjoy high school because it is really the best time.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I like to read. I like to go to the movies. I like to go on vacation.

Julie Fuhrmann, COOP/Child Development

Q: What is your favorite memory from high school?

A: It’s hard because I have so many. A lot of my memories, as far as what I remember about school, are related to spirit activities: football games, assemblies. My friends were probably my most fond memory when I look back.

Q: What is the most important thing you learned from high school that you would like to pass on to students?

A: What I wish I would have learned … was I wish I wouldn’t have cared so much about what other people think. After you get out of high school, it doesn’t really matter. So I wish I wouldn’t have put so much emphasis or care into what other people think.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

 A: I have two boys and I’m married, so family time is what I like to do. Sometimes, we do like “Family Game Nights”.  My kids love to dance, we actually have a disco ball in our house, so we like to have dance parties and turn on the disco ball and totally be silly. So, my favorite thing to do is spend silly time with my family.

 Sherri Santa Cruz, Math

Q: What is your favorite memory from high school?

A: Meeting my husband.

Q: What is the most important thing you learned from high school that you would like to pass on to students?

A: Do your best for yourself, not for anybody else.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Cook, swim, and hang out with my kids.

Kirstin Enos, Criminal Justice

 Q: What is your favorite memory from high school?

A: My favorite memory from high school would have to be winning the state championship for softball.

Q: What is the most important thing you learned from high school that you would like to pass on to students?

A: That it’s probably four of the best years of your life. Don’t take it for granted and work hard.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Watch football, coach softball, and hike.

Nicole Kelsheimer, English

Q: What is your favorite memory from high school?

A:Probably reading Thoreau in an honors English class, and just having it open up whole new ideas.

Q: What is the most important thing you learned from high school that you would like to pass on to students?

A: That this is not where it ends. Sometimes, it feels like high school is the beat-all end-all. Whoever is popular now won’t be popular later. Whoever is unpopular now will probably be President and CEO of a company. All of these things that seem so huge now aren’t so big later.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Reading is my favorite thing to do. I also love things like roller coasters and camping and hiking and riding my motorcycle.

Shawna Shelton, Newspaper, Journalism, and Yearbook

Q: What is your favorite memory from high school?

A: My best or favorite memory would have to be that I went to Ironwood High School. I started the year it opened. I was in the first four-year graduating class. It was a big memory and we got to do a lot of “firsts”.

Q: What is the most important thing you learned from high school that you would like to pass on to students?

A: The thing you learn is the hardest thing for kids to realize when they’re in (high school).  And that’s you can get through it, but it’s hard when you’re living in those moments of high school. But the more opportunities you take in high school: social, academic, being involved, the more doors open up for you out of high school.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my spare time, I work on a pit crew for a sprint car racing team. I also do a lot of gardening and culinary stuff.