Ms.Cowing has been teaching here for 32 years, but let’s go back to the beginning first.
Ms. Cowing started at River Bend at ALC in 1994 and was the only full-time teacher, teaching English, science, and math.
The time and effort Ms. Cowing puts into her kids to help them succeed at ALC, and still does to this day. Ms. Cowing even bought books or made up assignments for the kids she taught at ALC when they didn’t have any before.
Then, after ALC, she took a job at Washington Elementary, teaching math and reading to all grades, and was there for 7 years. When she transferred to New Ulm High School to help EBD students, she also taught life, reading, and transition skills.
Ms. Cowing’s most significant change was students having their own computers, along with an increase in online cheating and gaming.
Here at New Ulm High School, Ms. Cowing teaches study skills and reading, and also substitutes for other teachers. In the past, Cowing has taught transition skills, which is what she is most proud of.
“This is not a job that ends at 3:30, you need to work hard and become good at what you do,” Cowing said.
Working in the special education discipline can be hard, so Ms. Cowing tries to have a conversation in the hall to help the student work through the issue without making the student feel embarrassed.
Ms. Cowing also gives the student time to explain if something is happening outside of school that is affecting behavior, such as parents fighting, a lost job, drug problems, illness, and more.
John Laudert has been teaching for 48 years, and has been at New Ulm High School for 14 years. He grew up in MPLS, went to college at Augsburg, and is now married to Hope Laudert.
John has been close with Ms. Cowing for a long time. They help each other out with things like subbing, watching over the kids, and brightening their day.
“Ms. Cowing is an amazing teacher and friend who has helped me a lot with things when I was stuck, and I have helped her as well,” John said.
John has 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Some of his hobbies are fishing, gardening, and reading.
Throughout Ms. Cowing’s years here, she has lived by the words she said supported others, and continues to transform lives in special education.
