The longest-working teachers at New Ulm High School (NUHS) are from the history wing. Mr.Janssen is the longest-working, and Mr.Bute is tied for second with a few other teachers.

When Janssen started, he was given some advice. “Make friends with the secretary and the custodial people because they’re the ones that get things done for you,” Janssen said.

Mr. Janssen has been working here since 1991, which adds to 34 years during the 2025-2026 school year.

Janssen wanted to become a teacher because he likes being in the school system and wanted to help people get off to a good start in life.

Both of the teachers say that technology has been the biggest change in education. Janssen remembers when there was only one computer for all the teachers to share. Mr. Bute remembers coming in and writing his notes for each class on different chalkboards. Kids have been more exposed to the world with technology in both good and bad ways.

“I had a teacher who inspired me. I was going to be a police officer. I was in the military, and I had a teacher in high school who I went back and chatted with. A guy named Mr.Gromatka, and he kinda inspired me to go back and be a teacher,” Bute said.

Mr.Bute student taught in the spring of 1993 and started teaching here in the fall of 1993, which puts him at a total of  over 33 years.

Bute wants new teachers to enjoy the ups and downs of teaching every day because kids will be kids no matter what.