Mrs. Madsen, a loved and appreciated teacher here, has been teaching Childhood Development and Early Childhood Education at SVHS for 7 years. She is a positive influence on every students who walks into her classroom. Her kindness and humor can always uplift any student or faculty member.
Mrs. Madsen hasn’t always wanted to be a teacher, although teaching has always been in her nature. “I actually started college as a nursing major, and though I think I would have liked being a nurse, teaching made more sense for my personality and interests.”
Madsen also appreciated the hours school teachers keep. “I also have to admit, that after staying home with my children for 17 years, just being on the same schedule as them and my husband, who also works for the district, was appealing!” she explained.
SVHS is not the only place Madsen teaches; she goes back and forth to Swift Creek High school everyday. “This year has been a little hectic for me. I eat in my car everyday as I run between buildings and do most of my planning at home after I get off work, but I enjoy both schools and the experience of both places.”
Junior Brock Erickson said his favorite thing about Mrs. Madsen is her kindness. “She is super kind and always has very fun ways of learning!” he says. Students also report that she has a very bright soul and a bubbly demeanor, always striving to be her best for her students and her very own daughter who she teaches.
Madsen, like other teachers, also has had the opportunity to teach her own kids, in this case sophomore Kendyl Madsen. “I love having Kendyl in my classes. I feel honored as an elective teacher that she would choose to take my classes. We like to banter back and forth, and that might be annoying for other students in class, but it’s fun for me.”
Kendyl also likes having her mom at the high school. She said, “I think it is really fun to be able to have my mom as my teacher to see her in a different setting and learn new things from her on the teacher side! It’s definitely different from any of my other teachers because it is so fun to have that bond where I can have fun and tease her as well as learn usable information!”
Mrs. Madsen says her favorite part about teaching is by far the students. “I love this age group. You guys are so fun. I love your senses of humor, your awkwardness, your energy. The raging hormones don’t even scare me away. I prefer teenagers over adults any day!”
With good and fun things always comes difficult things, and Madsen struggles just like everyone else.”I really try to not to let my teacher life interfere with my mom and wife life, but it’s hard. I sometimes end up grading and planning at home and I hate that.”
Like most teachers, she cares deeply about the kids in her classroom. “I really do care about my students and knowing that they are struggling or having a hard time, and I can do very little to make things easier in their lives, just kinda stinks sometimes!”
Luckily for the students, after seven years, Mrs. Madsen is just getting started.