by Jen Myers

(Each month, Wellpoint, Lowell Public Schools and InsideLowell honor a Lowell teacher for their exemplary work in the classroom and for going the extra mile to serve as a positive influence in the lives of their students) 

It’s a Thursday afternoon at the Reilly Elementary School and the 3^rd graders in Amy VonKahle’s class are working diligently – heads down, detective hats on, and pencils scrawling furiously as they solve problems to collect clues and crack the case!

“Amy’s lessons are engaging, filled with humor and fun, and students are always smiling while understanding the importance of each lesson,” said Reilly School Principal Ron Fusco. “Amy, a Hall of Fame softball pitcher from Tewksbury High, applies the same dedicated athlete mentality to her teaching. No matter the school challenge, her room always excels. You will not find a more dedicated educator.”

Some people spend decades looking for the occupation they were meant to pursue; some never find it. That was not the case for Amy VonKahle.

From the time she was in kindergarten, she loved going to school and was always drawn to playing school. Her destiny was set.

The Tewksbury native and superstar softball player earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Rehabilitation and Education and her master’s degree in Special Education from Assumption College (now University). She later received her CAGS (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies) in Urban Education from Simmons College.

She began her teaching career at the Oliver School in Lawrence and found her home at the Reilly in 2014.

Third-graders are her people.

“They are still little kids, but can have conversations and understand humor, especially my jokes,” she said. “The growth that third-graders make both academically and socially is so amazing to experience. In 10 months, they gain so many new skills and are applying them in their daily life, it is fascinating to witness.”

Anyone who has spent any time at the Reilly knows Ms. VonKahle is always smiling and laughing. She brings that joy to the classroom to make learning engaging and fun for her students. And she gets as excited as they do about particular things like . . . multiplication!

“Third graders LOVE to learn multiplication!” she said. “They think it is the coolest thing ever. I also agree that multiplication is fun! I love teaching math and differentiating instruction and adding some flare into my lessons.”

Her approach to teaching is rooted in the lessons she learned as an athlete.

“I do think I run my classroom lessons very much like a sport practice giving 100% to be ready for games,” VonKahle said. “Also, I loved being part of a team and in my classroom, we are a team. We support each other, we work together, we encourage each other, and we laugh together. “

When a student is having difficulty with a lesson or a concept, she takes the time to make sure they get the intervention and attention they need to understand the material before moving on to something else. It’s that team mentality – no one left behind.

“Amy works tirelessly to ensure her students achieve their full potential in her classroom,” said Fusco. “She goes the extra mile to ensure that every child is making progress, and when they’re not, she immediately relays concerns to parents and works to find the right intervention.”

At the end of the year when her third-graders head off to summer vacation and then into fourth-grade, VonKahle hopes they take what she has given them with them.

“I want my students to know that I truly wanted the best for them, to always try their best, root for others, treat others the way they want to be treated and to advocate for themselves,” she said.

All about Ms. VonKahle: 

Hobbies: Reading, Cooking, Traveling, Crafts, Exercise Classes
Dream Vacation: Greece
Favorite song to sing in the car: 90s/00s rap and pop hits! * Biggie to Britney to TSwift*
Favorite meal: Caesar salad and pizza
Favorite snack: Anything with cheese!
Favorite Movie: Troop Beverly Hills
Favorite Book: Children’s Book – Balloons Over Broadway
Favorite TV Show: SVU
Favorite Fictional Character: Olivia Benson