Celebrating 20 Years of Educator Impact
Continuing our “20 Years, 20 Stories” celebration, we highlight Rebecca Lohse, a second-grade general education teacher and 2025 Teachers of Tomorrow graduate. Rebecca’s passion for teaching was sparked by her own third-grade teacher—and has grown into a purpose-filled career.
Meet Rebecca Lohse
Teaches: 2nd Grade General Education
State: Indiana
Program Completed: 2025
Inspired by Kindness
Rebecca was moved by the kindness and patience of her third-grade teacher and aspired to follow in her footsteps.
“I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.”
Teachers of Tomorrow helped her make that dream a reality:
“It helped me bridge my Sociology degree with coursework in elementary education. The foundation of evidence-based practices gave me what I needed to be successful.”
Memories That Stick
Rebecca’s favorite memory? An observation day that turned into an unexpected laugh:
“It was April Fool’s Day, and my principal forgot I was filming. He hid a fart machine in my room and came in during the lesson! I was mortified—but thankfully my advisor thought it was hilarious, too.”
Teaching Through Change
Rebecca has seen shifts in literacy education firsthand.
“Even three years ago, not everyone knew about the Science of Reading. I’m so thankful ToT’s instruction is SOR-based—it made a huge difference.”
She loves watching her students grow during the school year, especially in such a big developmental year like second grade.
“I love seeing their gains with EOY testing. It’s so rewarding.”
Advice from the Heart
Rebecca encourages future educators to stay grounded in their “why.”
“There’s a lot of talk that may discourage you—but hold fast to your convictions. All students deserve loving, effective educators.”
Thank You, Rebecca
Thank you, Rebecca, for stepping into the classroom with heart, humor, and a commitment to growth. You embody the spirit of compassionate, forward-thinking education.
Inspired by Rebecca’s story? Start your own journey to the classroom with Teachers of Tomorrow. 👉 Explore Our Certification Program
