Photo Courtesy of Megan Steinhauer
After six years of teaching at Hastings High School, history teacher Megan Steinhauer is preparing to say goodbye to the Tigers.
“I’ve loved every minute of being here. The culture is great and the staff are amazing,” Steinhauer said with tears. “We have this cohesion in Hastings, where the staff really care about their students, and the students are so great.”
Steinhauer explained that her decision to leave did not come easily, but that it was the right thing to do for her family. Earlier this spring, she announced she has a third child on the way.
“I just want to try something new in life,” Steinhauer said. “With a third baby on the way, it’ll be a good transition for my family and for me to be more present.”
Although Steinhauer believes she made the right decision, she is aware that her transition will not come without challenges. Instead of teaching single subjects to high schoolers, Steinhauer will be moving on to an elementary atmosphere with fifth graders at Sutton Elementary School.
“[I’m] a little nervous. I think it will be more challenging than high school — more so the fact that I haven’t taught it yet — but high school is just as challenging to begin with,” Steinhauer said. “Once I figure out fifth grade, I think it will be really fun.
She hopes to make an impact on students the same way she has at the high school level.
“I feel like I’ve made a good impact on the high schoolers, and now I’m ready to make a good impact on the younger kids,” Steinhauer said. “They can have those opportunities at a younger age to set them up for their success.”
Steinhauer has also been the mentor for the school’s National Honor Society chapter throughout the past six years, so she will miss what she has built while a part of it.
“I’m also really going to miss my National Honor Society students because… we’re doing really good things in the community,” Steinhauer said.
Steinhauer has been working with Counselor Courtney Benscoter to create a smooth transition into next year, as Benscoter will take over National Honor Society.
“We’ve been prepping together for the past two weeks, a couple hours here and there, and she feels confident that she’s gonna do a great job,” Steinhauer said. “I have no doubt that she’ll do phenomenal with it.”
Steinhauer said one of the toughest parts of her transition away from Hastings High will be leaving her co-workers.
“I just have such a strong relationship with Mr. Johnson, Mr. Theoharris, Mrs. Valdes, and Mrs. Sorgenfrei,” Steinhauer said. “ Ms. Benscoter is my best friend, and so I’m gonna miss seeing her every day and having lunch with her every other day. It’s gonna be really hard.”
She hopes to continue these relationships after she leaves.
“I’m going to have to make even more of an attempt to get back to Hastings, to see my previous co-workers… for lunch or whatever the case is, and to still keep those connections,” Steinhauer said.
As her time at Hastings High becomes shorter and shorter, she reflects on the past six years she has had. Ultimately, she knows this will be a good step for her family, but she will always appreciate her time at Hastings.
“It’s been bittersweet,” Steinhauer said. “But I know this is the right step for my family and for me.”
