Team Teachers Rachel Stutzman and Marsy Robben bring new ideas to the table, working as a team to tackle one full time job.
Team teachers Rachel Stutzman (bottom) and Marsy Robben (Top) work together to get the job done. Artwork/Photos by Ed Gloor
Team teaching may not always be easy, but Social Studies Teachers Rachel Stutzman and Marsy Robben make it work.
Together, they teach Advanced Placement Human Geography, and regular Geography. Stutzman teaches on Mondays, Tuesdays, and in the afternoons on Wednesday, and Robben teaches on Wednesday mornings, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Stutzman graduated from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas in 1998. She gained two degrees: Elementary Education and Religious Studies. Currently, Stutzman is attending the University of Denver, where she is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Global Affairs. “So, I have homework to do myself,” a smiling Stutzman said, who has been teaching at Thomas Jefferson since 2000, and has taught many different classes including English, Geography, United States History, Civics, and Honors American Government.
Before teaching at TJ, Stutzman taught at West Valley Alternative School in Colorado Springs, where her team teaching career began. She co-taught a literacy class during summer school. She originally taught at the alternative school to run a tutoring center, but it later transformed into an anger management-counseling center. “I had to deal with all of the kids that got kicked out of class for bad behavior and I had to deal with their problems,” said Stutzman. She also taught a life skills class at the alternative school. Now she focuses on giving 110% to her students, and says she is dedicated to the Spartan community, and tries her best to attend the sporting events. “I also try to support fellow social studies teachers by collaborating and sharing ideas,” said Stutzman.
Stutzman’s teaching partner Marsy Robben graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1973. She got her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology, and she earned one Masters Degree in Special Education, with an emphasis in reading, and another in social studies. Before moving to Colorado, Robben lived in Massachusetts, where she also taught. This year will mark her 15th year at Thomas Jefferson, prior to which she taught at Place and Martin Luther King Middle Schools, where she taught Special Education and social studies.
As for team teaching, they both agree it is an enjoyable experience. They have many strengths and the students are able go get useful information from both Stutzman and Robben. “Being able to work with Ms. Robben has allowed me to be able to spend more time with my kids,” stated Stutzman. Not only does it allow them to spend more time with their families, but they both feel it also makes them better teachers. They are able to synthesize their ideas and gain better results. “It is nice to have someone to talk to for comparing notes and ideas,” Stutzman claims.
Stutzman and Robben have been team teaching for eight years and they each bring something new and different to the table every semester. For example, Robben is from Kansas, so she is good at the agricultural lessons and assignments. Stutzman is “a city girl” so she knows more about assignments and lessons on the urban life.
“The benefits of working with Ms. Stutzman is that the kids have two sets of eyes, two sets of ears, two perspectives, and two sets of knowledge. We are two different people they can tap from,” Robben explains. Together, they have greater knowledge and the students can get a different perspective from each teacher. In case they do not understand what one teacher says, they can go to the other teacher and get a clearer view that may help them with their work. They come up with new solutions to smooth the waters and make it an easier and more enjoyable experience for their students. “We can share good ideas. For example, if we are able to get through to a student, we can tell each other and that would be an ‘Ah-ha’ moment so we can help that student learn more,” said Robben. They say that they are also able to revamp their teaching skills so they can rework things to allow the students to do well in their class.
With a few difficulties, Stutzman and Robben first started teaching together eight years ago. “When we first started team teaching, it was hard for me to learn how to develop relationships with students in half the time. Since we have been doing this for eight years now, I think I have learned to capitalize on the days I am there to build relationships with the kids more efficiently,” Stutzman said. The two say that there can be some difficulty planning on Wednesdays, when they are both at school, due to all the hustle bustle of the day, but they make it work and ensure they are ready for what is in store.
Stutzman states that when one of them is not at school, they still communicate so they are able to keep up with the assignments and stay organized. “Both are in sync with each other so it is like having one teacher; if one assigns a project, the other knows everything that’s going on so you can ask questions, “ said Junior Shelby Anderson.
Stutzman and Robben say they have come a long way, and have made the experience a good one for the students. “Having Stutzman and Robben was definitely a different experience. I had never had two teachers switch roles like that. I will admit sometimes it was hard, but at the same time, it was nice too,” Anderson exclaimed. She had the two teachers her freshman year for AP Human Geography. “Whenever I wrote a paper or did something in class, it was nice to know that I could get two perspectives. They each were able to help you at a different time, like a 24-hour teaching service,” Anderson said laughing.
In addition to helping the students, they Robben and Stutzman they know what strategies they need to help the students. “Not only do we share the curriculum, we share the students,” Stutzman said. As far as being excellent teachers, they have been very successful. Both Stutzman and Robben agree that it is fun team teaching, and they take pleasure in teaching here at TJ.
Not only do they like teaching the students together, but the students enjoy learning from them. “It was nice to have two teachers teaching the same class because it kept us on our toes. There were days when you would have one when you expected the other, but you grew to love them both.” said Anderson.
