Carol Haller is a sixth-grade teacher in Valparaiso. She’s been teaching for almost 40 years at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Her lasting effect as an educator has been felt for decades.
Haller grew up in Michigan City and attended Rogers High School. She’s known since her time as a high-schooler there that she wanted to be involved professionally in the vast field of science. Two teachers, one in biology and the other in chemistry, stood out to her, motivating some of her decisions along the journey on which her career has taken her.
“I couldn’t at first decide if I wanted to be a nurse or a science teacher,” she said. “I realized that to be a nurse, you didn’t need a lot of chemistry, so I thought, ‘I’ll be a teacher.’ Teaching has been a passion of mine.”
To put herself on the proper path, Haller went to Purdue University to receive her undergraduate degree. She also got her master’s there. While she was an undergrad, she learned about the complexities of creating compelling classroom environments. The day finally came when she was leading at the front of one. Throughout nearly four decades of educating, she’s found her favorite parts of what exactly her vocation entails.
“I love to watch the light bulb turn on with certain kids after exposing them to what science really is. I share my knowledge with them to try to get them to understand the things they’re curious or have questions about,” she said.
Haller makes science fun. She recently was teaching her students through a unit on ecology, a branch of biology dealing with how organisms interact with one another and their physical surroundings. She made up a lab where students were to use tweezers and pretend to be bean-eating organisms. She had them switch out the tweezers for paper clips and a spoon, asking them questions about what would happen to certain species if beans became extinct.
Side by side with Richard Bender, Haller used to lead Science Olympiad teams. The events would involve eighth and ninth-graders going against one another in competitions that would require them to use their creativity and skills in science. She and Bender coached together for 38 years, winning State and National level championships. Some of the kids they coached went on to establish careers as doctors, engineers, and even pharmacists.
Bender and Haller developed a rich bond during their years coaching. He led the first team, which meant there was one year they didn’t collaborate so that he could scope out the ins and outs of the contests. However, that one-year separation didn’t affect the development of their overall chemistry. Instead, in the state next to where the tournaments started at the collegiate level, they’d go on to collaborate in Indiana for the betterment and benefit of each other and the students whom they directed.
“I have a lot of good memories coaching so many of the Science Olympiad kids. One of the most rewarding parts of it all was building up relationships with them,” she said. “I see Richard as my older brother. We just clicked, so we worked well together for such a long time.”
Haller delights in how science is everywhere. She believes education opens up the future for everybody, so she tries to create a better and brighter one little by little in Valpo.
Since retiring from coaching Science Olympiad, much free time has opened up for Haller. It’s relatively new to her, because of the dedication she once put into being a coach. She spends some of it visiting family members. A brother of hers lives in Chicago, while another’s in Chesterton. Her sister lives in Michigan City, meaning her siblings are close.
Haller swam her whole life. She utilizes the lessons she learned as a swimmer to enhance the extent of her teaching. She enjoys explaining to students how sports are related to the sciences.
Whenever she can, Haller takes advantage of everything Valpo has to offer. She relishes the multiple aspects of the area, taking it all in.
“There are so many different activities you can do in Valpo. There’s a lot for families, and they show movies and concerts downtown and in the parks,” she said. “All the shops and restaurants that are available make this a great community to live in.”