A Rosy Teacher

Dylon Koran 

Tesha Christensen  

A Rosy Teacher 

07 April 2011 

Imagine animals running around in their cages, going outside for an hour to play kickball, while learning harder information easier. Sounds like a dream come true. Luckily for students attending Cedar Creek 

Elementary School it has. Richard Rose, to the students Mr. Rose, is a teacher who brings the dreams of fourth and fifth graders to life. Not only one year of school, but the students who make the cycle get two years with Mr. Rose. Despite the significance of this dream teaching environment, Rose stood once as a student himself. 

As a teenager Rose attended Monticello High in Minnesota with no intension of teaching. "Like every teenagers dream, I wanted to be a baseball player for the professionals," described Rose. As 

years became closer Rose dropped baseball for his part time job tutoring and giving a helpful hand at a middle school near the town he grew up in.  Shortly after, Rose applied to Mankato State University and was accepted. "It was my first big step toward success," Rose exclaimed! As summer approached and Rose graduated, things looked as if they were set to go off to college. 

Rose, before going off to MSU, went to the doctor for his yearly physical check-up. He was devastated by the news that he was impotent, and couldn't have children. "When I was notified I couldn't have kids, I instantly dropped to my knees and cried", Rose mentioned with his head hung low. Rose's family was very supportive to him. Rose's sister, now Rachel Richtner, would leave her children under his supervision while she went to work. Rose proclaimed, "These children brightened my eyes, and I felt lucky to spend every day with them." This changed everything Rose was expecting his future to be. 

Rose went on to finish a four year degree at Mankato State for teaching. The next step was to find a job. "I think the coolest thing about where I teach is it was the first job I took and I'm still standing here today," Rose said. Cedar Creek Elementary took on who became to be the talk of the school. Not the talk of grown people, but of the students. Rose alone wasn't his entire act of success though. He was helped by his little animal friends. This included a hamster, a snake, some lizards, and an iguana named Auggie. "Bringing animals into the classroom was a privilege to not only the students, but to me. They are what bring the students closer to me," Rose said. Unlike most teachers, Rose didn't only care about the education of his students, but just as much about their happiness. 

Connecting with the students makes it easier to teach them because they like to listen to someone they can connect to. Rose awarded the students in several different ways. Rose did this with candy and treats, but even taking an hour off of Friday class for kickball. The students have so much respect for Rose the teaching environment is at tent and involves interactions to keep the students involved. "Knowing the students choose to have a second year with me makes me gracious," Rose explained," and to say goodbye after the second year brings me to tears." It's as Rose creates a relationship with each child.

 After 24 years of teaching eight hours a day, Rose still manages to walk in everyday with a smile and a good morning that has meaning. Students wander in at will after years since seeing Mr. Rose just to say hello and reacquaint with him. 

Rose said to every student he had, he told them the quote he grew up on, "Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it." Rose represents a perfect scenario to keep your head held up high, and make the best of who you can be.

(students lining up at the door on Friday)