Lutze realizes mother's dream - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

20 December 2007 — Fourth-grade teacher Holly Lutze’s career as an educator wasn’t just a decision she made arbitrarily. Rather, it was a decision that came about through several generations.

Holly is one of two teachers at Northeast Elementary who received National Board Certification this fall. The certification, which requires a rigorous application, was a goal Holly had set for herself as a teacher.

“I looked at it as a title of honor,” she said.

Holly’s path to becoming an honored teacher began in her youth. She said that, like many teachers, she always felt called to the profession. But for Holly, becoming a teacher also helped her realize a dream that her mother hadn’t followed.

Her mother, the late Marcene Hill of the Faro community, was beautician by profession, and Holly said her mother enjoyed her work. But while she was growing up, she also saw how much her mother enjoyed working with children, through their church and through 4H programs.

“She always talked about how she almost became a teacher,” Holly said.

So when Holly began to think about her own career choice, she knew that she liked working with children as well, and decided to pursue the dream her mother almost had.

Holly said she knows that she wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all that she has without the lifelong encouragement of her parents, James Dennis and Marcene Hill, and her grandparents, who she said taught her that she could do anything she set her mind to.

After earning her degree, Holly eventually returned to teach in the community she grew up in, and has been at Northeast Elementary for five years. She has taught both fourth and third grade, and she said that age group is ideal for her.

“At that age, they’re independent, but not too independent,” she said. “They’re still very eager to learn and curious.”

The thing she enjoys most about teaching, especially kids this age, is that every day brings her something new.

"Every day is different,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to see one that has been struggling finally get it, to see that light bulb come on.”

In the classroom, Holly said she likes to take a very hands-on approach with her students, planning different activities for different levels of learners.

She also said she finds it very important to have a little fun in the classroom.

"I teach so that it’s fun for me,” she said. "I know they won’t pay attention if they’re bored, and I don’t want to be bored any more than they do.”

Holly said she also finds that she has things in common with her students, whose interests she gets to know over the course of the year.

One thing she has in common with students from year to year is her favorite pasttime – hunting. She said that hunting is her favorite thing to do in her free time, and that catches the interest of many of the boys in her classes.

“My little boys in my class love to talk to me about hunting,” she said with a laugh.
Holly also enjoys doing crafts, especially woodwork and painting.

Her son Matthew also takes up a good bit of her spare time. He is eight years old, and as a single mother, she spends a good bit of her time with him.

In addition to the support of her family, Holly says that her boyfriend Chuck Medlin also provides her with ample support. Chuck comes out to the school and volunteers in Holly’s classroom, and also helps wherever he can with her schoolwork.

Ten years into her teaching career, Holly seems to have a bright future ahead of her as a National Board Certified teacher. Though the pay raise that comes with the honor didn’t hinder her efforts to apply, Holly said that the certification means more than money to her.

“It looks good on your record, and it’s a huge honor to have,” she said.

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Issue of 20 December 2007

Wayne Wilson News Leader
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