I am excited for the 2011/2012 school. This is my 14th year of teaching and I am anxious to see what this year will bring!

Hi! I'm Ms. Nelson and this is my 6th year here at RCMS. I graduated from North Newton High School and moved to Terre Haute to attend college. I graduated from ISU in 2004 and lived and worked there until I moved to Rensselaer. I am the proud mom of 5 year old twins, a boy and a girl. It's hard to believe that they are in Kindergarten already. I love them, but they keep me busy! I am a member of the 7th grade team and am looking forward to our best year yet here at RCMS!

Hi I'm Debra Spangler. I love my profession and embrace the awesome responsibility and privilege of teaching your child to read and write well. The following is my teaching philosophy-- Middle schools and high schools provide a fundamental situation to prepare young people for a democratic and civic life. Generation upon generation has reached productive and rewarding adulthood having benefited from the experiences they have had in the public school systems. Young people of all backgrounds learn how to be Americans in public schools. Since I influence the way a child thinks, it is vital that I have a personal teaching philosophy that incorporates elements of effective instruction with kindness, caring and humor. I know my influence can last a lifetime. Student-centered instruction in which the student, not me, becomes the maker of knowledge is essential for effective education. Teachers should act as coaches and facilitators of learning to promote more active involvement of students in their own learning. Also, I understand that my attitude affects the outcome of every lesson. Therefore, it is essential that students believe that I care about them. Connections in learning are made when I care and am concerned about my students. Finally, assessment should flow from the idea that it promotes learning--it schould be about learning,not about catching students in mistakes. For example, assessment of a student's writing should be an evolving process in which I mark and provide feedback on successive drafts--in effect, assessing the work as the student polishes it into a finished product.

Parents & Students, Again please note each daily agenda for all classes.You will find all of the current information under the link on the next page. My new website is www.vanmeter.weebly.com. Homework will also be listed each day for all classes, but however as our daily schedules get hectic, I will most likely only post daily instead of weekly. This is due to not always knowing what we will actually get accomplished in the 50 minute class period and also this will help follow each classes' pace! If you have any questions regarding this information, please call or e-mail me and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Respectfully, Mrs. Kelly Van Meter

My name is Mr. Brian Zacher. I reside in rural Rensselaer. My wife Nicole and I have a one year old son, Jackson. I am starting my 11th year teaching Health and Fitness at RCMS. I am the Head Varsity Baseball coach and the Defensive Coordinator for the Varsity Football team. I graduated high school from RCHS and earned my degree at Purdue University. When I am not teaching or coaching, which is basically year-round, I enjoy outdoor activities of hunting, fishing and riding atvs all over the country.