Social science teacher Kathryn Rinderle is starting her first year at Oakmont High School. 

“My actual degree is in history,” Rinderle said. “When I graduated college, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with my degree, so I decided to get my teaching credential. I didn’t think it was something I would do as a long time career, but 18 years later, I’m still teaching and can’t imagine doing anything else.” 

Teaching is a very demanding job that not many freshly graduated high school students think to major in. Having been a teacher for 18 years, Rinderle is proud to teach as her profession. 

“Teaching is a lot of work, especially in this current format,” Rinderle said. “While there are lots of hours and late nights spent grading papers, planning lessons, answering emails, etcetera. To be able to inspire students to love history, see its value and importance, is very rewarding.”

Being a new teacher in times where it is significantly harder to connect with your students and the school itself, is a challenge. But for Rinderle, it is simply another obstacle to overcome, having already taught online for a charter school and for Sierra College. 

“Teaching online helped me see what is important and is not,” Rinderle said. “It also taught me that I love being in a classroom with students and [that is] why I wanted to come back to a traditional classroom.”

Being inspired by her own history teachers in high school, Rinderle developed a love for history, eventually majoring in it herself. 

“Whether it is history content or skills, or even new technology and methods for teaching, grading, etc, I love to learn and try new things,” Rinderle said. “I have been known to get overly involved in researching and reading about things going on in the world around us that it often leads to me putting off working on the things I need to do until the last minute.”

Rinderle is aware of the challenges that come with teaching, especially now, and will continue to do what she loves: teaching students. She encourages her students to ask questions and come to her if help is needed.

“Find the things that make you excited to work and learn and understand that these things may change over time,” Rinderle said. “That is okay. It is part of growing up and finding yourself.”