As a 2-year student of Birkemeier, I think it is safe to say, she may not always be the easiest to impress but she’s always there to help. 

Aside from being an English teacher, Mrs Birkemeier takes on the role of the Junior High musical director. Her favorite musical to direct was Crazy For You. Although she says that directing is very time consuming, she also finds it very fun. 

Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, yoga, reading and attending concerts as well as musicals.

Mrs Birkemeier chose to teach English instead of any other subject because she “wasn’t good at anything else” also factoring in her love for reading and writing. On a deeper level, Birkemeier got 2 degrees in English and “didn’t know what else to do.” 

She realized she wanted to take on a teaching career when she had gotten a substitute teaching job that had also included choreography, which made her realize her love for both teaching as well as directing. 

As a previous 9 Honors student and a current AP Lang student of Birkemeier, I was curious as to which course she enjoyed teaching more.“I like teaching both courses, AP Lang has deeper conversations but freshmen are cute.” 

As we grow as students, is there a difference in the learning techniques/ethics of the 2 courses? “Yes. Freshmen are just starting to gain confidence whereas sophomores are confident but still growing.” 

Many students love Birkemeier for her ecstatic energy no matter the time of day and her willingness to help her students succeed.