Teacher Feature

By Chelsi B

            Mrs. Julie Frieden was born on Sept. 8 in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.  She has three siblings: two brothers and one sister.  Julie graduated from Central Community School in Elkader where she participated in cross country, track, basketball, softball, and chorus.  She then attended the University of Northern Iowa and has now been teaching for eight years.  Julie’s family consists of her husband, Bob, and three children: Kyella 6, Trey 3, and Broden 9 months.  In her free time, Julie likes scrapbooking, shopping, and spending time with her family.  Her favorite movie is Remember the Titans and she enjoys listening to Christian rock.  Julie has lived in Elgin for the past eight years and wanted to teach in the community where she lives and where her children go to school.  She currently teaches title math for K-4 where she helps students build their math skills.  She also teaches gifted and talented for K-12 where she gets to create activities that challenge Valley’s gifted students.  Julie likes working with students of all ages and enjoys the qualities of every age group.

            Mrs. Ellen Marie Rule was born on Feb. 16, 1958, in Oelwein, Iowa, and has three siblings.  Ellen graduated from Starmont High School where she participated in speech, drama, FHA, Student Council, and SES (Students for Educational Service).  She attended Mt. Mercy College and has been teaching for thirty years.  Ellen and her husband, Ron, have raised one daughter, Jillian, and also have a Newfoundland dog named Bear.  Mrs. Rule enjoys reading, watching old movies, sewing, and crocheting.  Her favorite movie is Wizard of Oz and she prefers an eclectic mix of music.  Ellen has been teaching at Valley for twenty years and she currently teaches 9^th grade SSR, English 9, English 10, Speech, and Literary Analysis.