Et cetera : We just had to ask... New Shellsburg preschool teacher Danielle Martens

Danielle Martens: Started teaching Shellsburg preschool in December.

Because of the fast growth of the V-S Preschool at Shellsburg, there was a need to hire another teacher.

“Our preschool numbers have been going through the roof this year, so we needed to hire another preschool teacher for the ECSE program,” says Shellsburg Principal Ryan Davis. 

The new teacher is Danielle Martens, and she graduated from UNI in December. 

“She graduated on Saturday and started with us on Monday,” says Davis. “She has a few local connections in that she is friends with Matt Walston and Logan Halstead, and her 6th grade teacher was Mariah Stephens Anderson, a 1995 graduate of Vinton Shellsburg, and she says she inspired Danielle to be a teacher.”

Ms. Martens answered several of our “Had to Ask” questions, discussing a variety of not-so-urgent topics as well as why she loves teaching.

Q. Funniest thing a student ever told you?

A.   I once had a student in Pre-K who loved WWE. He told me that I was going to be in a match with another teacher, and that I would win. Haha!

Q. Best fast food sandwich ever?

A.   Chick-fil-A’s Original Chicken Sandwich

Q. What was your first job?

A.   I was a waitress at a Chinese restaurant in my hometown

Q. If you were to get a traffic citation it would most likely be for….

A.   Definitely speeding

Q. One place in the world you really, really wish you could visit?

A.   I would love to visit Australia and see the Great Barrier Reef

Q. First pet you remember?

A.   My goldfish, Goldy :)

Q. Who was your favorite teacher, and why?

A.   This is really hard, because I loved all of my teachers, especially in elementary school. I would have to go with Mrs. Ford, my 2nd grade teacher. She knew I wanted to be a teacher and let me read books aloud to the class.

Q. Tell us about one of your pet peeves?

A.   When people chomp on their food or gum

Q. What book or author you have not read, but should?

A.   I really want to read Harper Lee’s new book, Go Set a Watchman.

Q. What happens to the missing socks in the laundry?

A.   They get tossed back in my sock drawer

Q. Iowa or Iowa State (or other)?

A.   Iowa State!

Q. Was there something your parents said to you, over and over, that you, would growing up, said to yourself, "I will never say that to my kids?"

A.   My Dad always told me not to say, “I know” after he asked me to do something. He said it made me sound like a know it all. I hated that as a kid, but now I know I will say it to my kids too!

Q. Best TV show ever?

A.   I’m really loving Chicago P.D. right now

Q. Fill in the blank: In a perfect winter, it would snow…..

A.   Every week!

Q. Name your favorite:

Candy bar: Mounds

Ice cream: Chocolate

Color: Pink

Sports team: UNI Panthers, KC Chiefs

Actor/actress:Liam Neeson

Song: “Harder to Breathe” by Maroon 5

Our serious question:

Q. When and why did you decide to become a teacher?

A.   I’ve always known that I wanted to be a teacher. When I was in 1st grade, my teacher had us make a time capsule of various things that we could open on our high school graduation. Inside was an activity about what we wanted to be when we grew up. I had written about wanting to be a teacher. As I got older, that desire grew. I love working with my students. It’s exciting that I get to create new learning opportunities for them and help them grow.