A new school year comes with new teachers

MT PLEASANT – It’s that time of year again, teachers and families are preparing for a new school year. Take some time to get to know the newest teachers to the area.

Scott Roen

Roen is the first ever male teacher in an elementary class at Mt. Pleasant Christian school, and he begins teaching third grade this fall.

Roen says he had always wanted to be a teacher, and he initially received his teaching degre from Aurora University 22 years ago.

This, however, will be Roen’s first teaching job. Previously, he has worked in as a state laborer and a semi-truck driver.

“All the while through the process, I knew God wanted me to work with kids,” Roen said. “I’ve coached every level of just about every sport.

Roen is married to a Henry County Police Department dispatcher, Laura Roen. They have four children together who have attended or are attending Mt. Pleasant Christian: Bailey, 18, Kylee, 16, Scotlyn 13, and Josslyn 12.

About Life Outside of School

What is one of your hidden talents?

I am very athletic and competitive. I am competitive to the point of having to catch more than anyone else when I go fishing with anybody.

What would the students be surprised to find out about you?

I get car sick really bad. Beyond bad. My mother could never believe that I drove.

When I am driving it doesn’t affect me. So, that is funny because I drive.

What’s a typical Saturday night like for you?

In the fall, if it is hunting season, I would be hunting Saturday evenings. I also like to fish.

Once it is dark I am usually hanging at the house with the kids. We watch movies.

Our family is getting really big into the office.

What are some pets you’ve had or would like to own?

At the present moment we have four dogs.

When we lived in other places, my son, had asthma so we could never have any pets. When we moved into our new home three or four years ago, he came home from work one day and said “a guy I work with is getting rid of some dogs and they’re free.” And it turns out, because we don’t have any carpet in the house, he was fine.

Nala and Oreo are the two smaller dogs.

Just recently, Scotlyn was getting her hair done, and she found out someone was getting rid of an Australian Shepherd. So, we tried it for a few days.

Her name is Luna. She loves to play ball non-stop.

I’ve always wanted a dog I could play catch with a Frisbee and she will go catch it all day. She is considered my dog.

My son just came up to a rescue dog. Her name is Jasmine and she is mostly an outside dog.

What is your dream vacation?

A vacation with just my wife would probably be to Hawaii for a week.

A vacation with my son or buddies would be an elk hunting trip, or fishing trip way up north.

What are your “trapped on a desert island” books or movies?

If I was trapped I would really like to at least get some ESPN so I can watch sports.

If you won the lottery and decided to give up teaching, what would you do instead?

I am the Iowa Rep for Disability Hunts and Fishes. It has recently opened up to kids without dads, too. I would be able to focus on making that happen even more.

I would probably still teach.

About School Life

What are some traditions or superstitions you have for the First Day of School?

We have an Ice cream social coming up and I was thinking I would take pictures of my students as they come in and have their pictures displayed for the first day of school.

How do you think is the best way to show school spirit?

Being a Christian school, the way that I live would be a representation of the school.

I would also speak highly of the school. I think that having a Christian education is important.

What sort of morning routine do you have to get jazzed for class?

I’ll have three kids to bring, three girls nonetheless.

I will have to have some coffee, make breakfast, and make sure the kids are ready to roll.

I want to get here early enough to walk through the door, take a breath, and pray before the kids come.

Music is also a big part of pumping me up.

What inspires you in your teaching journey?

I know that God has called me.

In the midst of a calling, I think God gifts people differently for whatever he wants them to do.

I am inspired by knowing that God has called me to something, and given me a passion for it.

I get to finally utilize the gifts He’s given me. So many times I wondered if my education was a waste, but here I am.

What’s the best/worst thing about being a teacher?

I would definitely say I look forward to the most is just bringing about joy in the kids and teaching them they can have fun in school. I love to have a lot of fun.

About the Students

If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share?

Dream Big, because we have a big God and He has gifted all of you kids for greatness.

You won’t know what that greatness is if you just settle and chase after little dreams.

Never give up. You don’t know if one decision you make is going to open a really big door that God wants you to go through.

What’s a school sport or activity you enjoy watching?

I couldn’t even tell you that I have a favorite sport.

Everyone would probably think baseball because I’ve coached and played it.

I know the game of baseball more, but I’ve also coached my daughter’s fast pitch teams.

Anything to do with any ball, I will try to do, and I will try to be the best at.

If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?

I would try to get to know my students before I chose a field trip. I would want to see where they would really want to go, because I want to excite them.

We are going to do a fishing trip for our first field trip, and it lines up with the science curriculum, actually.

Along the Lines of a Specific Article or Theme

What kind of driver were you when you first got your license?

Cautious. The only ticket I ever got was on the way to church on a Sunday morning.

If you were to be given a superlative when you were in school, what would it have been?

It would not have been to even go to college, and it definitely wouldn’t have been to graduate college.

I can guarantee you all of my teachers would be shocked if they knew I was going to teach now.

I was a jock so probably most likely to play sports.

What is your first memory from school?

In first or second grade at a Lutheran school in Wisconsin. We got this one kid to put his tongue on a telephone pole in the winter. It was stuck there for several minutes.

I remember my sixth grade science teacher. He was athletic.

He always had a ball, and he would always bring the football out when it was time to line up.

He would let one of the guys and one of the girls go out for a pass. Then if the guy caught it the guys would get a reward and whoever caught it.

Just for Kicks

How long would you survive a zombie apocalypse? Why?

I would probably would never die because I would outrun them and I would just keep running. It would be flight mode. I guess if they run fast, I would hunt.

[When informed how to kill a zombie, his answer changed a bit]

I would say “it’s on,” and I would go hunting.

If you could have grown up in any decade, which would you choose?

I would have loved to grow up way back when, when there were no cellphones and you would actually talk to people face to face.

Where you didn’t feel like you had to answer a phone because there were no phones. It was a way simpler way of life.

Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength,” because knowing strength comes from God means you can do anything.

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” I have that tattooed on my ring finger.

Most people don’t think of that has a marriage verse, but for a marriage to do well, you really do have to serve each other.

What is your current jam?

My go to jam right now is “Blessed Mode” Kel Mitchell

What is something you want your students to know?

I would want incoming to students to know that they are a masterpiece that God created to do amazing things.

If they do their very best they’ll be able to see the fruit.

They’ll be able to do more than they ever dreamed possible, if they stay the course.

I want my students to know they are going to be loved and challenged. They are going to learn a lot, but it is going to be a really fun year.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com