Karen Waltz’s journey to becoming a kindergarten teacher at Indian Trail Elementary School has taught her that it’s never too late to write your own lesson plan in life. When her twin daughters were first starting preschool, the then stay-at-home mom began volunteering at the school’s get-togethers, but Waltz never imagined that stepping into her daughter’s classroom would also be the first step toward finding her true calling.
“I found a local preschool here in La Porte and started volunteering at their little get-togethers,” Waltz said. “When my children were finished with the program, Jaunda Kneller, the director who became a friend of mine while the girls were in school, asked me if I would like to become an assistant. I said, ‘Of course!’ After that, she promoted me to be a teacher, and that's where I found the love of working in education. I was married with two children at the time and had not gone to college, so I told my spouse then that I really wanted to go to school to become an elementary school teacher, and he was all for that. I went to Purdue University North Central, which now is Purdue University Northwest, and graduated with my bachelor's degree in 2004.”
Waltz quickly found a passion in helping young children learn and was inspired by the light in their eyes as they took in new ideas. The joy, curiosity, and enthusiasm of the little learners she witnessed in the classroom made a lasting impression, one that would soon even reshape her future. Prior to teaching, Waltz took a brief job at her local K-Mart in her late teenage years, but she had mostly stayed home to take care of her children. Now that her children were starting school, she knew it was time for her career to take a new and different path.
“I loved seeing the children learn and loved the activities that we did at the preschool – they were just so excited for learning,” Waltz said. “It was so much fun to see them just soaking up all the knowledge and just seeing them grow from day one until their graduation from the 3-year-old or the 4-year-old program. We also made sure to make it fun for them, so that they would be willing to learn and not think of it as a chore. That’s when I knew I had to go back to school and get my teaching license and do this as my career.”
When the idea of pursuing a career in early childhood education first crossed Waltz’s mind, she thought back to her own first-grade year and the teacher who made learning feel like an adventure. That experience left a lasting impression, one she carried with her throughout her education. When she finally stepped into her own classroom, she was determined to create that same sense of joy and curiosity for her students. Alongside her friend Kneller, it was that first-grade teacher who played one of the most influential roles in shaping the educator Waltz would become.
“When I wanted to go back to school to get my teaching degree, I thought about my teacher from first grade, Mrs. Hood. She was just a wonderful, loving teacher who made learning fun,” Waltz said. “I remember when I got my degree, I called her and told what I did was because of her and Jaunda. Just watching how Mrs. Hood taught early childhood to these little kids – I was in awe of what she did, and she inspired me to go back to school later on.”
Now, 19 years later – 17 of those teaching kindergarten specifically – Waltz continues to help shape the lives of La Porte’s younger generation. From day one of each school year to day 180, it’s an amazing process to watch her students grow throughout the year. She fell in love with teaching so much that she was inspired to continue her education and received her master’s degree in 2013. She was even nominated twice for La Porte Community School Corporation’s Teacher of the Year over the course of her career.
“My favorite part about teaching right now is when the kids walk into my classroom with their smiles and they're excited to be there and learn,” Waltz said. “They ask me, ‘What are we doing today, Miss Waltz?’ I tell them what we have planned – I always have an agenda on the board and little pictures before they learn how to read on what we're doing, and they're just so excited. It's a fulfilling profession to be a teacher and just to see those children be excited about learning. The growth I see is amazing.”
Working for La Porte Schools has been a dream come true for Waltz. To her, teaching has never felt like a job but rather a daily adventure filled with purpose, growth, and joy. Each morning brings new opportunities to make a difference in students’ lives, which is exactly what drives Waltz to curate the best learning environment for each and every child who enters her classroom.
“The main thing that I love about being a teacher at La Porte Community School Corporation is that I don't feel like I have to go to work – I get to go to work,” Waltz said. “There's no two days or classes or years that are the same, which keeps the job engaging and interesting. I love seeing their sweet smiling faces every day, and it makes my heart very happy. I believe you have to meet the children where they are and have them grow from there. You can't treat all students the same because they aren't the same academically, emotionally or socially when they come into your classroom. When they come in on that first week of school, I try to find out what their interests are – their hobbies and their backgrounds – so that I can help them have the spark of the love of learning.”
Waltz’s love for the City of La Porte runs just as deep as her passion for the La Porte Community School Corporation. When she’s not in the classroom, she can often be found enjoying the community she calls home. Family time is especially important to her, and she cherishes every opportunity to spend quality moments with her loved ones.
“I like to spend time with my twin daughters, their husbands, all of my wonderful grandchildren, my friends and my boyfriend. I like hanging out with all kinds of people,” Waltz said. “I go to Arts in the Park. I like to listen to music. I go to the Civic Auditorium to listen to music, and I love to read. I love to go to church and do Bible studies and just and I like to make sure that my yard and flower garden looks very nice.”
From volunteering at her daughters’ preschool to creating meaningful connections in her own classroom, Waltz has turned a late-blooming dream into a fulfilling reality. Her story serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to follow your heart, and that sometimes, the most rewarding paths are the ones we don’t expect.
“Obviously, I was not a traditional student,” Waltz said. “I went back to school at age 33 and got my first job with the La Porte School Corporation at age 40; it just proves to you that you can find what your love and your passion for your career, for your life, even at later on in life.”