Educator Enrichment Express

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Issue 13

Visit us at rvaconnect.org

In this month's issue:

*Educator Spotlight, Featuring Seymour's Jenny & Kregg Mueller

*Beyond the Prompt: Unlocking Your Personal AI with Gemini Gems

*Partners in Progress: Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences

*Beyond "Thank You": Fostering Genuine Gratitude Before the Break

More Than Teachers

The criteria for this spotlight are clear: find educators who create meaningful, authentic learning experiences; who inspire students and colleagues; and who bring innovation, joy, and passion to the classroom.

When Matt Molle, principal of Seymour Community High School, submitted his nomination for Kregg and Jenny Mueller, Alternative Education Teachers, his enthusiasm was palpable. He insisted they "provide a caring learning environment while maintaining high standards and expectations" and that they “are rockstars in education!”  I was eagerly anticipating my visit to their educational world.

My morning began with Matt, that same principal who nominated Kregg and Jenny, who excitedly greeted me and led me on a brisk walk through the halls. He couldn't stop talking about the two educators, emphasizing how they create paths for students that are fitting and personalized.  He wasn't just talking about academics; he was talking about their students' learning and LIFE paths.  He said the  work they were doing was "awesome." And as I learned during my visit, "awesome" doesn't even begin to cover it.

When we arrived at the Thunder Academy classroom, he gathered the students and announced that their teachers had been chosen for this feature. "There aren't any two educators more deserving," he declared, a statement met with a genuine round of applause from him and the students.

After he stepped out, I spent the morning immersed in their world. This alternative education environment felt less like a classroom and more like a home. The space was calming, welcoming, and inclusive, fostering a strong, visible community where students were comfortable, relaxed, and deeply engaged.

As I listened to book study groups, it became clear that the educators' passion centered on building resilience and empathy. They operated with calming voices, undeniable kindness, and profound patience. It was obvious they knew their students deeply—not just as learners, but as individuals—and were adept at giving each one exactly what they needed to be successful.

At one point, Jenny shared a personal story from her own past, a moment of vulnerability that spoke volumes. The classroom was built on an overabundance of trust, allowing for authentic connection.

This commitment to authenticity extends far beyond the school walls. After our classroom time, we headed to Fallen Timbers for a community service project. The educators regularly take their students into the community, whether it's cleaning up roads, helping at museums, or raking leaves for the elderly. On the drive, they excitedly discussed bringing back a project at a local nursing home. The students, in turn, were genuinely excited to pitch in and support their community.

In every conversation, one philosophy was the clear foundation for everything they do: building relationships and trust.

They are in the midst of planning a move to a newly renovated building, and their excitement was most focused on one specific feature. They are so excited to have a kitchen as the focal point.  They feel like a family, and that way they can all gather as a family in their learning space.  This family-first approach is the core of their future plans, which include expanding the Thunder Academy to serve younger grades.

Perhaps the most powerful testament came from the students themselves. When I spoke with them, the resounding theme was how kind and helpful their teachers are. They all agreed: these two are so much more than teachers.

As the visit ended, Jenny, Kregg, and their students gathered for a photo. "We always want to remember you and these experiences," Jenny said to the students. "It's one of our favorite things to do—look back and remember all of you and think about how you're all doing."

It was a fantastic experience. As I walked away, I finally understood the principal's effusive praise. I was inspired, moved, and, honestly, I didn't want to leave.

Let's get to know Jenny a little more.

What first inspired you to become an educator?

As a kid, I had a dream that I was going to change the world. As out of reach as that may seem I realized that becoming a teacher would allow me to help people a little bit at a time and hopefully over a long period of time those little things would build up. I was also inspired by so many teachers who took the time to help me along the way and have always wanted to pay that forward.

What brings you the most joy and passion in your work?

As an educator the thing that brings me the most joy is seeing a student that struggles with something, whether it be academic or personal, and overcome that struggle. Seeing them have pride in themselves and being able to celebrate successes with them has been such a fulfilling part of my life in general. 

What is the most important lesson you hope students take away from their year with you, beyond the curriculum?  

Every year I wish for my students to see themselves, like I see them. I want them to know they can achieve anything they put their mind to, that they can do hard things, and that they are special just the way they are.

Let's get to know Kregg a little more.

This year's theme is "Epic Learning". What does that phrase mean to you in the context of your classroom?  

To me, epic learning takes place when students start to take ownership in their education and in life. They set goals, work toward completing them and eventually accomplish the biggest goal of all which is graduating and walking across the stage among their peers at the end of their senior year.

What first inspired you to become an educator?

When I was in high school I had a number of great teachers and coaches. I was inspired by those individuals to be an asset in my community as an adult by helping my students achieve their goals.

What brings you the most joy and passion in your work?

Meeting students where they're at and seeing them succeed and excel in school brings joy to me.

What is the most important lesson you hope students take away from their year with you, beyond the curriculum?  

When you truly commit to something, set goals and celebrate successes, you can accomplish whatever it is you set out to do.

Looking back, what are you most proud of in your teaching career so far?  

I'm proud of our work providing students with an alternative path to learning and an opportunity to be successful. Every student we have has a unique story and being able to connect with and encourage them to be successful both in school and in life has been rewarding. It is awesome to see our students graduate and move onto the next phase of their lives.

Last month, we talked about using Google Gemini as a creative partner. Now, let's get even smarter about how we use it. If you find yourself typing the same kinds of instructions into Gemini over and over, you're going to love Gems.

 

Gems are custom, reusable instructions that you create for Gemini. Think of them as your personal shortcuts or "recipes" for your most common tasks. Instead of re-typing a long, detailed prompt every time, you save it as a Gem and can activate it with a simple command. This saves time and ensures you get consistent, high-quality results every single time.

 

What are Gems, Exactly?

A Gem is a saved persona and set of instructions you can easily call upon. You tell Gemini who to be and what to do, then save that command under a simple name.

 

There are two types of Gems:

1. Preset Gems by Google

When you start, you'll see a few Gems already created by Google to handle common tasks. These are great starting points and might include things like:

Summarizer: Instantly get the key points from a long article or document. Perfect for prepping student readings.

Idea Generator: Helps you brainstorm when you're feeling stuck.

Writer's Helper: Can help rephrase text to be more formal, casual, or concise. A great tool for polishing parent emails.

 

2. The Real Magic: Creating Your Own Gems

This is where the power truly lies for educators. You can create Gems tailored to your specific classroom, grade level, and curriculum needs.  The process is simple: Identify a repetitive task, write a master prompt for it, and save it as a Gem.

 

How to Create Your First Gem: A Step-by-Step Example

The Goal: Create a "Lesson Plan Assistant" that quickly drafts outlines in a consistent format that aligns with state standards.

 

Step 1: Write Your "Master Prompt."  This is the detailed instruction you want Gemini to follow every time. Be specific!

Your Prompt could be: "You are an expert curriculum designer for a Wisconsin public school. Your task is to create a daily lesson plan outline based on a [topic] that I will provide.  The outline must include the following four sections:

Learning Objective: Clearly state what a student should know or be able to do. Please connect it to a relevant Wisconsin Standard for a [grade level and subject].

Bell Ringer: A 5-minute warm-up activity.

Main Activity: A brief description of the core instructional task.

Exit Ticket: One or two questions to check for understanding."

 

Step 2: Create the Gem.  In Gemini, you'll find an option to "Create a Gem." You'll paste your master prompt into the instructions field. Notice the parts in brackets like [topic]  and [grade level and subject].  These become your variables, which you can fill in each time you use the Gem.

 

Step 3: Name Your Gem. Give it a short, memorable name that starts with the @  symbol.

Name: @LessonPlanner 

 

Step 4: Use Your Gem! Now, instead of typing that entire paragraph, you can simply type this into Gemini: @LessonPlanner topic: "The Water Cycle", grade level and subject: "4th Grade Science" 

 

Instantly, Gemini will follow your detailed instructions and generate a perfectly formatted lesson plan outline. Imagine creating Gems for differentiating texts, generating rubrics, creating vocabulary lists, or drafting weekly newsletters!

 

For even more information, check out Matt Miller's post on his Ditch That Textbook website.  You can find the article HERE.

November often means parent-teacher conference season—a critical time to build the home-school partnership that is so vital for student success. While they can feel stressful, shifting our mindset from a "report" to a "conversation" can make all the difference. Here are some actionable tips to ensure your conferences are positive, productive, and collaborative.

 

 

Before the Conference: Prepare for Partnership

Strong preparation is the key to a confident and effective conversation.

 

1. Gather a Snapshot: Go beyond the gradebook. Select one piece of student work that shows a clear strength (a "glow") and another that demonstrates an area for improvement (a "grow"). Pair this with key assessment data and a few brief anecdotal notes on work habits or social interactions.

 

2. Structure with "Glow and Grow": Frame your talking points around this simple and effective model.

- Glow: Start the conference by sharing a specific and genuine point of pride. Instead of "She's a good reader," try, "I've been so impressed with how she uses context clues to tackle challenging words in our science articles."

- Grow: Frame challenges as goals. Instead of, "He's struggling with math," try, "Our next step is building his confidence with multi-step division. We're using manipulatives in class, and practicing one problem a night at home could be a great support."

 

 

During the Conference: A Two-Way Conversation

Your role is as much a listener as it is a speaker.

 

1. Ask, Then Tell: Begin by asking for the parent's perspective. Questions like, "What have you been seeing at home?" or "What are your hopes for your child this trimester?" immediately establish a collaborative tone.

 

2. Show, Don't Just Tell: Use the work samples you gathered to make learning visible. Talking about a student's writing is good; looking at their writing together is better.

 

3. End with a Plan: Conclude by summarizing the conversation and agreeing on one or two clear, actionable steps for the teacher, the parent, and the student. This ensures everyone leaves on the same page and with a shared purpose.

 

 

Spotlight: Empowering Learners with Student-Led Conferences

Consider shifting the dynamic by placing the student at the center of the conversation. In a student-led conference, the student prepares a portfolio of their work and leads the discussion about their strengths, challenges, and goals, with you acting as a facilitator. This practice builds invaluable skills in self-reflection, communication, and accountability. You can start small by having students prepare and share one piece of work they are proud of at the beginning of your conference.

 

These conversations are the foundation of a successful school year. By working together, we can ensure every student has the support they need to thrive.

As the air gets crisper and Thanksgiving approaches, it's the perfect time to integrate a focus on gratitude into our classrooms. More than just good manners, the practice of gratitude is a cornerstone of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Research shows it can increase happiness, build empathy, and foster resilience.

Here are a few simple, low-prep "Gratitude Projects" you can launch in your classroom to cultivate a more positive and appreciative climate before the holiday break.

Project #1: The Gratitude Wall (or Tree)

This is a powerful visual project that builds a collective sense of appreciation.

How it works: Give each student a few slips of paper (cut into shapes like leaves, bricks, or links for a paper chain). Each day or week, have them write down something specific they are grateful for. It could be anything from "the sunny day at recess" to "when my friend helped me with a math problem." Add these to a bulletin board to create a large, growing display that serves as a constant visual reminder of the good things in your community.

Project #2: Appreciation Ambassadors

This project directs gratitude outward, helping students recognize the interconnectedness of their school community.

How it works: Brainstorm a list of school staff members whose hard work often happens behind the scenes—custodians, cafeteria staff, librarians, administrative assistants, or bus drivers. Have your students work in groups to write thoughtful, detailed thank-you cards or posters for these essential members of your school family. Delivering them can be a powerful and memorable experience for everyone.

Project #3: The Gratitude Journal (or Exit Slip)

This is a quiet, reflective practice that helps students internalize gratitude as a personal habit.

How it works: Dedicate a small notebook or the last few minutes of the day to gratitude. Provide a simple prompt and have students write or draw their responses. This makes for a wonderful, calming end-of-day routine.

Sample Prompts:

"What is one thing that made you smile today?"

"Who is someone who helped you this week?"

"Name a skill you are thankful to be learning."

By dedicating a few minutes to these simple practices, you can not only brighten the November days but also equip your students with a lifelong tool for well-being.

 

Please reach out at any time!

cassandra.kulibert@ruralvirtual.org

888-801-2666 ext. 8883