IN THE SPOTLIGHT — Michele Kluge
Jun 28, 2024 01:22PM ● By Sherry Killion AdamsMany of us have had a special teacher in our lives at some point in our education that stood out. We felt they cared about us and wanted the very best for us. These special teachers spend hours on lesson plans making sure that their material is perfect for all the children. Teachers can be the very catalyst to lift a child up and set their feet on the road to success. Year after year we trust our children to these teachers to help shape them into contributing adults in our society.
Michele Kluge knew she wanted to be a teacher by the time she was in the second grade. She had such great role models that she was sure that’s what she wanted to do as she grew up and never deterred from that line of thought.
Michele is a hometown girl. She relates that she has gone to every school there was in this area. First at Rome East for kindergarten, then Rome West for 1st through 4th. Next was Pearce 4th & 5th, then CEC for 7th & 8th and graduating from IVC in 1985. She continued her education at Eastern University, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science and Education Degree in 1989.
Michele met her future husband, Shannon Kluge in high school, but they didn’t date until after Michele had graduated from college and Shannon was out of the Army. They married in 1991 and have two children—Ashley 31 and Zac 28.
Her first job was substitute teaching at South School. From there she went to PALS in Peoria and taught pre-school for two years and then Kindergarten for two more years. From there she went into administration at PALS for seven years learning all the ins and outs of running a school.
After her stint in administration, she stayed home for a year with her kids, but soon realized she needed to get back to teaching. Even though she wasn’t Catholic she applied for an opening at St. Edward’s School and got the job. (She has since converted to Catholicism.) She began teaching 3rd grade with 31 students! She now teaches a multi-age classroom of 3rd and 4th graders. She loves the integrated classes and says the kids learn at an accelerated speed being with older piers. She teaches the 3rd graders and 4th graders the same lessons, with the only separate class being math. She also loves having the kids for two years where they can build special relationships together.
About eight years ago when St. Edwards was going to close for financial reasons due to the cost of a new roof, Michele asked the administration for a chance to raise the money to save the school. In one week’s time, they brought in $500,000 to keep the school solvent. The school was saved and continues to thrive today.
Having her best friend die of breast cancer, Michele wanted to give back and help raise money for the cause. Although she had never been a runner, in 2013 Michele began to run in the St. Jude Run event and took over organizing the “math-a-thon” at her school. St. Edwards has raised over $17,000 with this effort and Michele will be collecting pledges and running for St. Jude again this summer.
Michele says she loves teaching more than ever. Her favorite thing is when the kids really catch on and she can see that the child gets what she is teaching. “It’s like a light bulb going on in their heads.” This fall Michele will begin her 27th year teaching at St. Edward’s school.
She said her greatest accomplishment is of course her children that she is so proud of. Her daughter Ashley has followed in her footsteps and is a 1st-grade teacher at St. Edwards.
In the summer months you can find Michelle managing the swimming pool at Shore Acres Park until school begins.
Teachers are truly special people. It’s not just a job to them, it’s pouring some of themselves into every child that comes across their path. They pray that each child will grow up to be a happy and productive person, and if they had a small part of that outcome, then that is all the reward they need.
Thank you, Michele for all the love you have poured into the children you teach in Chillicothe. You will never be forgotten by the lives you have touched.