Becoming Mrs. Klimpl

She was stylish, fun, and the best teacher ever

I’ll never forget when my sixth grade teacher became my favorite. At the end of the year, Mrs. Klimpl invited our class to her house to swim in her pool. Coolest teacher ever. Mrs. Klimpl didn’t just win us over because she was stylish and fun, though she absolutely was, but because she made us feel special.

As an elementary student, I remember sitting in class, admiring her eclectic and edgy attire, hanging on her every word, in awe of this adult I looked up to so much. I didn’t even know her first name.

Favorite teachers shape us. As kids, we’re soaking in lessons not just from the curriculum, but from the way adults show up. Mrs. Klimpl taught me plenty of academic lessons, I’m sure. But what stuck was how personal her guidance felt. She looked me in the eye, gave me feedback I could actually use, and helped me grow and not only as a student, but as a whole person.

Fast forward to me living my Mrs. Klimpl dreams: teaching in Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan. Teaching became my calling. I worked with everyone from 3-year-olds to adults, first as an English language teacher, then as an elementary classroom teacher.

While teachers aren’t supposed to have favorites, let’s be honest, it’s hard not to. Watching students arrive in August and transform over the school year is magic. That growth always starts with a relationship. And if I’m being real, it’s often the kids who show up with struggle written on their faces, carrying reputations from past teachers or parents, that quietly become my favorites. They’re like little red flags waving for extra care. Helping that kid grow becomes my mission. And when they rise, it’s unforgettable.

One student, Jason, was one of those kids. He was the smallest in the class, quiet and hesitant, carrying the weight of some tough feedback from the year before. He started the year in August with his guard up, but there was something in his eyes that told me he wanted a fresh start. By the end of the year, his mom asked if I would keep working with him over the summer. I said yes, and we kicked things off at Caves Bookstore for our first session. We wandered the aisles until we found a cozy corner. I told him to pick any book.

“Are you sure I can read all soccer books?” he asked, surprised.
“Yes,” I said. “I already talked to your mom. The goal is to read what you’re interested in. If these are your picks, let’s go for it.”

We made piles: yes, maybe, no. We flipped through covers and first pages. We measured plot excitement and vocabulary difficulty. If a 9-year-old boy has to spend his summer with a tutor, he should at least enjoy it. And honestly? I should too. If I’m not having fun, they definitely aren’t.

By the end of the summer, Jason had read more than he ever thought he could. His mom gave me a small photo album filled with memories from the school year and our tutoring sessions.

Teaching is funny like that. You show up to guide and teach and end up growing and learning yourself.

So in the spirit of Teacher Appreciation last month: thank you, Mrs. Klimpl.

Who was your favorite teacher? What memory still sticks with you?

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Learning Updates:

• ☠ Spent my birthday weekend exploring an ancient town nearby, including a chapel made of human bones.

• 🤖 My latest work project: using AI to duplicate and scale brand strategy. It’sfascinating stuff that is supercharging my efficiency.

• 📚 Currently reading The Courage to Be Disliked. I’m really enjoying the character-driven dialogue and big philosophical questions.

• 🎋 Experimenting with more tech-free weekends and embracing the feeling of being offline. It’s wild how much happens in only 48 hours.

• 🤙 Recently connected with Jacob Kantor, a fellow super-connector in the edtech space. Loving the chance to learn about new projects across learning and development. If you're working at the intersection of AI and education, let’s connect—I'd love to hear what you're building.

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Thanks to Michelle Elisabeth Varghese and

Becky Isjwara

for your writing support!