As Elliott Elementary School fifth graders took a final lap around the building to commemorate the end of their time there, so did one of the school’s longtime educators this past May.

Elliott teacher Rhonda Mueller marched around the school one last time with her fifth grade Owls after 30 years of service.

“It's bitter, bitter, bitter sweet,” Mueller said.

“We were like really lucky to be her last students,” Elliott fifth grade student Somaya said.

Mueller said she’s been pondering retirement for a while. She decided to say goodbye to teaching after this school year to spend more time with her family.

“It is so hard to leave – lots of tears,” she said.

Mueller started her career at Lincoln Public Schools in 1996. Before coming to LPS, she ran a daycare and preschool in her home while her own children were still there. Then, she went to Concordia University to earn an education degree with an art minor and an endorsement in early childhood education. Mueller landed her first teaching job after being hired by former Elliott principal DeAnn Currin for kindergarten. Her love for kids is what led her to the classroom.

“They just are wonderful creatures, and I love being a part of their lives and teaching them to build community. That's really my most important goal,” Mueller said.

The educator found her home at Elliott. After her first year in kindergarten, she later transitioned to teaching art. In 2004, Mueller continued as a specialist at the school teaching art and computer science. After 15 years as a specialist, she moved back into a traditional classroom, educating third grade students for two years. Then, she made another shift to fifth grade in 2014.

“Rhonda's passion for the Elliott community shines bright! Rhonda has a gift for developing relationships and creating inclusive classroom communities where all students feel valued and connected,” Elliott Principal Michelle Kulas said. “This work for Rhonda goes deep. She has invested and poured in with all scholars for over 30 years at Elliott, maintaining the focus of high expectations and high support.”

“She's always kind and caring,” Elliott fifth grade student Ahmad said.

The tight-knit Owl community was one of the main reasons that kept Mueller returning to Elliott year after year.

“It's love. It is just love. I can't, and aside from the love that you get from kids and from staff and the special kind of community, I can't say enough about what, how fulfilling this work is,” she said.

Mueller’s dedication to fostering relationships was not only evident within her classes but also in working to embed it in every aspect of the school’s culture. Fellow fifth grade teacher Meagan Lozano said Mueller’s intentionality in cultivating connections with each student to grow them as learners was one of things she admired most about the educator.

“I have also grown in my own professional manner to reflect the deep caring that she does with the people around her,” Lozano said. “She builds her community around her, and then she equips that community to flourish on its own.”

Mueller’s passion for education and relationship building extended past Elliott’s walls. It also seeped into her family, leading several of her own children to pursue teaching careers. Some, like her son Ross, even decided to follow directly in her LPS footsteps.

Similar to his mother, Ross said working with kids came naturally to him, beginning with him giving children swimming lessons. He also credits the hours spent at Elliott before starting college for molding his career path. Ross started at LPS in 2008with coaching, substitute teaching and serving as a paraeducator. Now, he works at Culler Middle School as a health and physical education teacher.

He said the greatest lesson that he learned from his mom that he now uses in his classroom is restorative practices.

“Rhonda is big on restorative practices, and it has shown its effectiveness in the classroom. So it only makes sense to use that as well,” Ross said. “We've had lots of conversations about it with other family members who are in the classroom and that's something that I like to use in my classroom as well.”

“There isn't anything else that I hear my family talk about that is more fulfilling than this work,” Mueller said.

The longtime Elliott educator hopes the legacy she leaves behind with her scholars is the power of a safe community that listens.

“If students don't feel safe, they're not going to learn, and they're not going to show their mistakes, and that's really what the key is,” Mueller said.

“She's one of the best teachers here, and I really like her,” Ahmad said.

Her students are thankful that she invested in them and provided them a space to thrive.

“I would say thank you for being the best teacher and being so awesome, and thank you for doing all the great things and helping us learn to go to sixth grade,” Somaya said.

“This is the best work for the heart,” Mueller said.

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