GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – From the moment Allison Klinck stepped into Congress Elementary as a student teacher, she knew she had found her teaching home.
“I graduated from WMU in 2018 after student teaching in my final semester at Congress. I had the most impactful, influential mentor teacher, Renee Howard, who, in addition to my parents, contributed to my passion for educating,” Klinck explained.
Guided by that mentorship and inspired by her parents, Klinck found a deep connection to Congress Elementary - a connection that has only grown stronger over the past six years."
“The Congress community is unlike any other community. We have so many deeply connected organizations that support us every year.”
She says that one of her goals each year is to create lifelong memories for her scholars.
“I love doing things with my students that are memorable like going to a Whitecaps game, a musical production, or other fun field trips that we take,” Klinck said.
She cherishes the bonds she builds with scholars, often receiving emails from graduates who keep her updated on their lives.
“My goal is to make my students' school year the best year they could possibly have and to make sure that they know that while they are in my room, they are loved and cared for,” she said.
Klinck says it is clear that the effort she puts into her career is making a difference every day.
“I absolutely love seeing my students' faces every single morning when I greet them at the door with a hug, high five, or fist bump,” she explained.
Through her involvement with the annual Congress Cub Crawl fundraiser and community garden, her relationships with scholars and families continue to grow.
“Building relationships and providing unique experiences for my students that they might not experience without me providing it, steers my daily instruction and interaction with my students,” she said.
For Klinck, teaching is more than a job - it's a lifelong commitment to her scholars and the Congress community.
“I love the diverse population of students that I serve every day. The community and the students are why I work in GRPS!”
