When the school day ends, teachers don't just stop being busy; they simply shift gears. From athletics to genealogy to cattle showing and planning vacations for clients, staff members have a wide range of hobbies that keep them active and connected.
David Koppelmann, a high school math teacher and coach, stays on the move when he's not teaching. A lifelong runner, Koppelman first discovered his love for running during middle school, high school, and college, and it has since become a major part of his lifestyle.
He also enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, basketball, disc golf, and golf, many of which he shares with students and colleagues. He picked up golf during COVID and now plays weekly or bi-weekly in the summer.
When winter hits, snow days often turn into video game days, which allow him to reconnect with friends who live far away. Even mowing the yard has become a peaceful and relaxing routine for him, something he enjoys nearly every weekend from spring through late fall.
For Lisa Peterson, a high school history teacher, free time means diving into the past. She enjoys tracing her family’s genealogy, a hobby inspired by her grandmother’s stories about their roots in Gasconade County. Those stories sparked her love for history and led her to research and build her family tree over many years. During the school year, she focuses on genealogy during longer school breaks, continuing to add discoveries and preserve her family’s history.
Matt Ketcherside, a high school agriculture teacher, spends much of his time outside the classroom in the barn. His hobby of showing, fitting, and clipping cattle began in high school through FFA and has grown into a year-round family commitment. From major shows in Oklahoma City and Denver in January to Louisville in November, there is always something being prepared. Ketcherside has been clipping and fitting cattle for others since college, and his daughter Hadlee’s involvement in showing cattle has increased the time he and his wife spend helping prepare calves for competitions throughout the year.
Creativity and imagination play a big role in Amy Quertermous’s free time. As a high school English teacher, she enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and planning Disney vacations. A lifelong reader and journal writer, Quertermous has combined storytelling with photography to create scrapbooks for nearly 30 years. She also loves planning Disney trips for herself and others. Since 2008, she has planned her own Disney vacations, and over the past eight months, she has helped others navigate the sometimes overwhelming process, finding joy in easing stress so families can focus on the magic.
Some teachers also read and go on walks. These hobbies show that our teachers are not only dedicated educators but also passionate individuals with interests that bring balance, joy, and inspiration to their lives, both inside and outside the classroom.
