The school library is the largest classroom on the elementary campus where every student and teacher visits.
Michelle Höffchen, librarian at Willow Springs Elementary School knew as a second-grade student that she wanted to be a teacher.
For 19 years, she taught mostly at the elementary level in her native Louisiana before moving with her family to Copperas Cove, where she eventually shifted to the middle school level and three years ago made another big switch to lead the library at Willow Springs in Killeen ISD.
Creative, hard-working and deeply committed to helping all students learn, Principal Anika Stewart said of Höffchen, “She is a true leader and educator on our campus – someone who inspires others by modeling positivity, collaboration and innovation.”
Höffchen is a KISD STEEL Award winner for the month of January.
KISD Superintendent King Davis, Stewart and other district and campus leaders surprised her with the honor as a class of students took part in activities in the school’s busy library.
As a classroom teacher 19 years, Höffchen wanted to combine her love of teaching students and working with teachers. Operating the library expanded her reach to every elementary grade level.
“I love being a teacher. I have no doubt that is my calling,” she said.
“I love building relationships with kids. I love being able to have those real talks with them and being that positive, steady person in their lives.”
At Willow Springs, Höffchen revamped the school library organizing books by genres and helped students to find the topics that interest them, turning reading from a required task to something fun.
“Getting to share that joy with them and combine all the subjects together in the library is pretty great,” she said.
“The library is the heart of the school. Every student passes through here. What better way for me to impact children then to get to see every student in the school in the biggest classroom in the school,” she said.
“In addition to that, I get to work more closely with teachers. After 22 years I have a lot to share. Building relationships with students and teachers is super important.”
When the popular librarian saw a group of leaders coming into the school, she knew someone at Willow Springs was about to receive a KISD STEEL Award. She didn’t realize it was her.
“When I read about it more, I realized it was an employee of the month for the whole district. I was very shocked and honored and surprised and humbled. It was pretty amazing.”