More than a job

Regan+Meyer+teaches+World+Geo+in+the+Freshman+Academy.+This+is+her+second+year+at+LHS.+

Katie Kroeze

Regan Meyer teaches World Geo in the Freshman Academy. This is her second year at LHS.

It is not a secret world geography teacher, Regan Meyer, is a favorite among LHS students. What makes her so unique is that she sees her job as a vocation rather than an obligation. 

After being a cook for almost a decade, Meyer decided she wanted a change of pace. It is currently her second year of teaching at LHS and the third year of teaching overall. Prior to teaching at LHS she taught at George McGovern Middle School for just a year. 

“I had a quarter-life crisis at twenty-four after I had been cooking for about ten years. I looked at everything I’ve done in my life and I thought what part of it do I enjoy the most and I realized my favorite part was helping other people understand things,” said Meyer.

She strives to make her classroom an inclusive and comfortable space for all who enter it. 

“I feel like when my students enter my classroom they feel like they can be themselves. I have behavioral expectations, but when it comes to who they are, they can be whoever they want to be,” said Meyer.

Meyer also takes a non-traditional approach to the way she runs her classroom. 

“I always have food if students are hungry. I don’t really give seating charts,” said Meyer.

Meyer not only teaches students inside the classroom, but she also facilitates many different clubs and activities at LHS outside of it.

“I’m the advisor for the young progressives club and origami club. I’m going to be the new advisor for social studies national honors society and I’m the tech director for theater,” said Meyer. 

Many students feel as though they have made a personal connection to Meyer even if they have not had her as a teacher. Sophomore, Baily Plourde, is one of those few.

“She’s the cool aunt of the school,” said Plourde.

Sophomore, Ella Westaby, is another student who has been positively impacted by Meyer.

“She’s definitely a mom figure for me,” said Westaby. 

One of the many reasons students see her as a role model is because Meyer is not afraid to admit having flaws, but she is always working to try and better herself.

“I have a really big issue with saying no to people, specifically students. [For instance], when people ask for my help with something even when it’s not my job, I have a really hard time saying no, and that is something I think I need to work on,” said Meyer. 

One of the ways Meyer establishes inclusiveness in her classroom is through the lessons she has learned throughout her life.

“I live by respecting everyone’s choices even if they are in opposition of my own. That was a really hard one for me to learn,” said Meyer.