Becky Strunk or “Mrs Strunk” as many people know her as, has been a teacher at Andale Middle School for 10 years. She was in the Elementary School for 23 years. She teaches Social Studies for 6th-8th grade. When asked what made her want to teach social studies she responded with, “I enjoy Kansas History and Government very much and find it interesting”. When I think back to being in middle school at Andale I can remember her class and her as my teacher for 3 years, I can remember how we would always be learning something. There was never a dull moment in Mrs. Strunk’s class, no matter what topic she was teaching.
When I asked her what made her want to start teaching in general she said, “I started out as wanting to be a School Psychologist, but had to teach for 2 years to continue the program. After teaching for two years, I just decided to continue as a teacher”.
Her favorite part of teaching is definitely getting to know the students and seeing them after they have graduated. She loves to hear what career they have chosen and how they are doing. What I remember from Mrs. Strunk as a person is that she is a very good listener and is intrigued to hear about what her students are up to, whether that would be her asking what you did over the summer, or over winter break. She would always make a point to talk to you and ask how you’re doing and make every student feel included in whatever the class was doing that day.
I asked her what her favorite project or history subject is that she gives her students, and she said, “Many students remember the Mummification of “Pharaoh” chicken legs or the “Shrink my Vacation” project. I remember these two projects very vividly and loved doing them. The way that Mrs. Strunk teaches is a way that is greatly appreciated by all of her students. Strunk is very creative in the way she teaches, and always has something for a student to do. It’s such a shame that she is retiring, because now the future kids of the middle school won’t ever get to experience her as their teacher for their middle school career.
