Column: Ulwelling and other teachers are an asset to Austin

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 16, 2000

Before teacher Katie Ulwelling was an Ulwelling, when she was just a little girl growing up in Austin, she used to play with another little girl named Leonie.

Wednesday, August 16, 2000

Before teacher Katie Ulwelling was an Ulwelling, when she was just a little girl growing up in Austin, she used to play with another little girl named Leonie. One day when Katie was swinging, Leonie walked right in front of her, seemingly ignoring Katie’s warnings to get out of the way. Katie ran right into her, knocked her down, and both girls ran in the house bawling.

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"I told my Mom that I yelled at her and she didn’t pay any attention. I was pretty upset too – I hadn’t wanted to knock her down," Ulwelling said. "Then my Mom told me, ‘Of course she didn’t hear you, she’s deaf.’ That was the first time I’d ever heard that someone could be deaf and what it was – I was flabbergasted."

Years later, when Ulwelling had her bachelor’s degree in elementary education but felt like there had to be more, that childhood experience steered her toward working with the deaf and hard of hearing. She went to school for another year and a half and became a special education teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Now she’s among the state’s Top 10 "honor roll" teachers.

Ulwelling is a mile-a-minute interview.

She goes from her theory on the greatest educational challenge facing Austin (increasing diversity), to her educational goals (100 percent literacy), to her ways and means of helping her students be all that they can be. In between she’s explaining how being Austin’s Teacher of the Year has involved plenty of work and giving this newish mother tips on child-rearing … turn on the closed-captioning everytime your child is watching TV among other things.

Her passion about people and students is apparent, in just about everything she says. One thing that worries her is the future of Austin and Austin’s children.

"Our community is standing on the threshhold now with increasing diversity," she said. "We have such a chance to make Austin a place where people, especially children, feel nurtured and welcome … The real challenge for teachers and all people is to make sure each child knows they’re valued as much as other children."

According to her coworkers, when Ulwelling is in a classroom, even though she is usually there to help one particular student, she helps all the students. One of the first things she does, however, is explain to the other students what they can expect and what hard of hearing means. She may explain how hearing loss works, what a hearing aid does, get them to think about how it would feel to have a hearing loss. "I let them know it’s alright to ask questions," she said, "and that makes it easier for the hard of hearing student. Both because we get a lot of the questions out of the way and because it makes the others less intimidated by the apparatus that goes with a hearing loss." Education, exposure – both things are necessary to get rid of or avoid misconceptions about those who are different. Another thing she does is organize a monthly social outing for her students, who range in age from preschool to 21. Part of it is reward for doing well, part a chance to get to know others with hearing loss, part to give the younger ones some great role models.

Austin is lucky to have her.

Not just because she has made it to the Top 10 teachers in the state of Minnesota and has done Austin proud in the Teacher of the Year competition. Not simply because of the enthusiasm and talent she has shared with Austin students and fellow teachers over the years. Nor the fact that she and husband Dan are both Austin natives who chose to rear their children and put their talents to work in their hometown. Not just because she’s the visual phonics guru and has taken it upon herself to spread the word. It’s all of those reasons and more.

Whatever the reason, Katie Ulwelling – as well as scores of other excellent teachers – has made Austin a better place to live for a time for many children.

And for me. The energetic teacher made my Friday quite a treat, even though Franny and I didn’t get to go swimming because we talked so long. That’s OK, Franny got her first face to face experience with a real baby doll, and I got a strong infusion of teaching enthusiasm and belief in my common man.