For most people, doing the same activity or working in one place for many years can become exhausting. However, there are extraordinary people who enjoy the work they do and hold a special place in their hearts for the career that they are in. PE teacher Rebecca Tuecke has been teaching PE for most of her life and has had a very unique experience here at Niles West.

“I have been teaching PE for 33 years,  four years at Fairview, and 29 years at Niles West.  I’ve been the head of the Leaders program for 25 years.  Plus, I was a PE Leader when I was in high school, which was at Niles West,” Tuecke said.

This love for working in Physical Education started at an early age, way back in high school. Tuecke was a Niles West wolf herself, so she knows the walls and halls better than anyone else.

“My favorite moment at Niles West was winning the 1979 Basketball State Championship when I was a Freshman,” Tuecke said. 

As Tuecke has been teaching for a long time, she has made so many memories and enjoyed all of the moments in her career, but most recently there has been a special moment that topped the charts, which she appreciates from the bottom of her heart.

“My favorite leader’s moment came last year when my 9th-period junior leaders program threw me a surprise party for the news that I was in remission from breast cancer,” Tuecke said. 

The positive impact that Mrs. Tuecke has put on her students has encouraged some of them to go into teaching as well. “It is my passion and I know so many students that went into education because of being in my class. There are a few teachers here at Niles West that I taught which is so cool,” Tuecke said. From her, they learned that the glass is always half full.

Senior Alisha Maskatiya adds to the positive traits and characteristics Tuecke shows. “I want to say that Mrs. Tuecke is incredibly kind-hearted and she makes us feel very comfortable in her classroom. She is also very easy to talk to,” Maskatiya said.

Positivity is the key to success in life and being surrounded by positive individuals, such as Tuecke, can help uplift people to put more effort into creating a better future for themselves.

PE teacher, Terry Langston, perfectly covers the concept of how Tuecke fits the role of being head of the PE Leader’s program. “I would say Tuecke is a leader. She leads by example and leads by what she does with her classes, how she prepares and continues to grow as a teacher in our field,” Langston said.

As this is her last year teaching, she has some final thoughts and takeaways from her 33 years of experience. “The kids are the future. I hope in some sort of way I will help lead them to lead us,” Tuecke said.