Alisa Boecker
Whether she’s in the classroom or at a ball game, Cordell High School’s science teacher and cheerleading coach Alisa Boecker continues to love her job.
Seeing her students succeed is what Boecker said she loves most about her job, and that is why we chose Boecker for this week’s Cordell Blue Devil Faculty Spotlight.
Boecker, who wears many hats as she teaches physics, chemistry, human physiology, environmental science, and psychology as well as coaches the cheerleaders, has a total of 19 years teaching, five years in Hobart and 14 years in Cordell.
We’re a little bit more than a month into the school year now. So how has it been so far?
It’s been good! It’s been a good year so far! It was a little hectic getting started, but everybody kind of figured out their spots, and now we’re rolling.
What have you guys been up to in the past month?
Well, we had our pie auction. We’ve been able to knock a couple of football games out. Thank goodness we haven’t had any COVID incidents or anything. So really just getting the school year started.
Compared to this time last year, with having to deal with the midst of the pandemic, how has the start of this year been? Is it easier, about what you expected, harder?
Honestly, with the pandemic, I think it’s been better just because we had some faculty changes and lost some people and gained some people. So I think that just getting everybody going with that, that was a little bit difficult at first, but like I said, I think everybody’s kind of figuring it all out. We’re all getting used to the new faces and it’s going well. I think the pandemic and the quarantines have been a little easier because kids knew what to expect and now we’ve changed the quarantine. So that makes it better.
What are some things you’re looking forward to for this school year?
Last year wasn’t awful. We fared better than other schools with the pandemic, but things are just getting a little more back to normal. So hopefully we can keep adding in all of the activities that we couldn’t do. We missed out on a couple of ball games last year because of quarantines. I’m excited for things to just go back to a “new normal.”
So what about you? What is it that got you to want to become a teacher in the first place?
My dad’s a teacher. He was, he’s retired, and my grandmother was a teacher, so it was kind of always something I was interested in. I tried studying a few other things because my dad kept telling me I didn’t want to be a teacher, but I think it’s in our blood. It just kind of won the day.
You’re also the cheerleading coach. What got you to want to do that? How’d you end up there?
My oldest daughter was a cheerleader so it was a way for me to get to help out the school and go places with her. Then, my youngest daughter is a cheerleader now, so I’ve just continued on with my kids cheering.
It’s a neat way to get to be at all the activities. I like to get the kids hyped up. I like the school spirit. It’s a fun way to spend some time with the kids.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
The kids and the teachers in the community. I think we’ve got a family-like atmosphere at school. The students are great. I’m sure lots of teachers from lots of other schools would tell you that, but I think ours are the best. I really do like Cordell. I like the community. I think they really get involved, and when we really need them, they always support us with everything that we do. All of the fundraisers that we do. It’s fantastic. People really show up for our kids. So I like that.
Throughout all this, what is it that motivates you in your job?
Seeing kids be successful. The little successes in the classroom, all the way up to one of my students that’s in medical school right now telling me how her day was and getting ready to start a residency. Everything from all of those little successes just add up, and I’d love to see the kids succeed.
Going back to what you teach, you’re the science teacher and you seem to teach quite a bit. What is it that got you into that subject?
It really was my favorite subject in high school. When I was younger, I wanted to be a math teacher. That’s what my grandma was. Then, when I got to high school, I had a great science teacher, and I really enjoyed his classes. He taught us so much and science just inspired me.
Looking back at your 19 years of teaching, what have been some of the notable moments during your time teaching? Has it all just blended together, how has that gone?
It does all blend together. Oh gosh. There’s just so many things. I was teacher of the year here and at the last school, and I don’t even know that that’s super important. Really just the neat things that the students have done, I think are the things that stick out. When they win big ball games, and when they do really well on assignments in class.
And what is it that you like the most about Cordell Schools?
I really like the family atmosphere that we have. Not just the faculty and staff, but even the kids. Our kids probably have their little bickers, like any other place, but I really do think that our kids are a nice group. I’m glad my children have got to go to school here. I think it’s really been great for them. I like the small town feel. I’m from a small town, and I really do like that about this town.
And when you’re not teaching, how do you like to spend your time?
Let’s see. I run, I do CrossFit, I decorate cakes, and of course I like to spend time with my family. My kids are active so I’ve been chasing kids to ball games. Really school and that kind of stuff is just our life anyway.