Panther Professionals

     Panther Professionals is a weekly series highlighting educators, administrators, staff and aides who are dedicated to the future of the Monticello Community School District.

     In her 11^th year working for the Monticello Community School District, Janice Wallerich is the ELP coordinator and art teacher, both at Monticello Middle School.

     ELP (Extended Learning Program) is the talented and gifted program for fifth and sixth graders in the subjects of math and English.

     “It was identified that the we needed more progressive-type curriculum and educational experiences,” explained Wallerich. Students in the ELP program come to her on a daily basis to work on both math and English course work, that which is above and beyond their peers.

     “I also review all of the middle school students’ scores on tests to see if adjustments need to be made or if they need a different placement,” added Wallerich.

     As part of the ELP program, Wallerich used to run an after-school Lego robotics league. The last two years, interest has changed, and she’s hoping to dive into another robotics/coding program soon.

     Wallerich teaches art classes to all middle school students, fifth through eighth grade. This is her fourth year as the art instructor. She sees the fifth and six graders every six days, and the seventh and eighth graders every other day for a semester.

     “Due to the realignment of staff,” she said, “the art teachers no longer travel to the two elementary schools.” Jackie Tighe teaches elementary art.

     Wallerich actually started her teaching career in art and IT (computers and technology). She spent a couple of years teaching K-4 for the Central Valley School District, then transitioned to K-8 for computer classes. At that time, Wallerich also became the school’s IT coordinator.

     She majored in elementary and art education at Central College in Pella. As for the computer and technology mindset, Wallerich admitted, “I’m not such where that knack comes from.”

     Before even diving into the teaching world, she worked for the IT department at a credit union.

     When Wallerich was first hired by the MCSD, she came in as a part-time ELP teacher.

     “I moved here with my four kids from Western Iowa,” she said.

     To offset the part-time job, she became an associate at Carpenter School during the time she wasn’t needed. During her 10 years here, Wallerich has taught sixth-grade science as well.

     “The only school I haven’t taught in is the high school,” joked Wallerich of the array of teaching titles she’s held over the years.

     With her own kids growing up in the MCSD, she said what has kept her here are the students themselves.

     “It’s a community,” she said of working for the district. “I knew this was the place I wanted to raise my kids.”

     She said from the moment she started working here, she’s always been impressed with the technology available to the students and faculty within the MCSD.

     “Technology really changes how you teach,” she said, even implementing creative online technology and smartphone apps within her art classes. She said art isn’t just drawing and painting anymore; introducing the middle schoolers to digital art and graphic design.

     “My mission is for the kids to see all of the different forms of art that are out there,” she said.

     When she’s not teaching, with three teenagers and an almost-teenager, the Wallerich family spends their time traveling for motor trial events. Unlike motocross events, motor trials incorporate low speed, obstacles, and balance on a motorcycle.

     “Our whole family takes this on,” said Wallerich. “We have a lot of fun traveling out of state.” She said they meet others in the same field and have formed a small “trials family” where they see each other from March through October.

     “My dad started the tradition 10 years ago,” Wallerich said of the family ritual in motor trials.

     The family also spends time camping as well.