Long before Alayna Kerkhoff decided that she wanted to become a teacher, she was already practicing for it. Some of her favorite memories involve pretending to be a teacher at her grandma Betty’s house. Betty would also read to Kerkhoff. “She grew my love for reading, which grew my love for teaching,” Kerkhoff said.
Education has been a part of Kerkhoff’s family for generations. On her mother's side, her grandma, Betty Kalina, was an elementary teacher, and her grandpa, Larry Kalina, was a middle school teacher. All of their children became teachers, including Alayna’s mom, Erin Kerkhoff, who is a teacher at Southwest Technical College. On her dad's side, her grandpa, Daniel Kerkhoff, was an art teacher.
Kerkhoff has also gained experience through babysitting. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Kerkhoff wakes up at 5:50 am to babysit two kids. She gets them ready and takes them to school. Despite the early mornings, it’s one of the highlights of her week. “I love those kiddos,” Kerkhoff said.
While her family helped inspire her interest, the turning point that ultimately pushed Kerkhoff into pursuing elementary education was tutoring with Mrs. Arensdorf. When she first started tutoring, she didn't know if she wanted to go into healthcare or elementary education. However, watching the kindergarteners learn and grow over the year helped her make that decision. “After watching the kids throughout the year and their growth, that pushed me towards teaching.” She wants to be a part of that growth someday.
Tutoring has also helped Kerkhoff envision the type of teacher she wants to become. She especially looks up to Mrs. Arensdorf and her ability to maintain balance in her class. “She has a good balance of both letting the kids be themselves and keeping them in check.” Kerkhoff hopes to bring that same balance into her classroom while creating an environment where every student feels encouraged to learn and grow. “I want every child in the classroom to know what they're capable of. I want to celebrate their progress, help them overcome challenges, and show them that mistakes are welcome.”
After high school, Kerkhoff plans to attend the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse and major in elementary education. After she graduates from there, she hopes to teach 4K, kindergarten, or first grade. She is not sure if she wants to return to Potosi or go somewhere else.