Stressed, tired and anxious are just some feelings I was experiencing during my most stressful time in high school. Even though I came into class with a smile on my face, english teacher Elise Hintzman noticed.
Hintzman, who is one of the Spartan Spin advisors, supported me in ways that were above and beyond. Once, she even gave me a little note with a piece of chocolate. On the morning of the ACT, she sat with me and helped me set up what I needed to. She talked me through all the nerves and worries.
She always pushes me out of my comfort zone and pushes me to be better, while at the same time making me feel proud about my work. Hintzman makes me feel like I belong and like I have a role in the class.
“I try to find that one little thing about every single student that I can at least have a conversation about,” Hintzman said.
Since being in her class, I have been able to present in front of the school board, give directions in front of the class, and even create a video that the entire school watched. All of these are things I would’ve never thought I could do.
“I want students to look at the magazine or the webcast or whatever it is and be like ‘yeah that whole thing was me.’ I want them to feel like they were successful independently from the guidance of myself or Jed,” Hintzman said.
I’m not the only one she’s made an impact on. Last year was her first year teaching, and there were only two hours of the Spartan Spin class. This year, there are three class hours, and a lot of the students are returners.
“I’ve been super impressed with her ability to connect with students. And it’s all kinds of students, students with different backgrounds and different ideas about things. She’s really good at treating kids as individuals and not just a group of students,” said photojournalist Jed Carlson, who has been volunteering for Spartan Spin for over 15 years.
Hintzman’s classroom is a safe and comfortable environment for all students.
“Everytime I come to class and I look down, she’s always asking if I’m okay. She’s always there to give good genuine advice when you need it, she doesn’t sugar coat things and she makes it known that she cares about her students,” junior Jayden Gunnarson said.
