My Why - Evelyn Schuler, Retired 2nd Grade Teacher

At the incredible age of 102, Mrs. Evelyn Schuler is a cherished former District 21 educator who dedicated 28 rewarding years to teaching in our district. A true inspiration, she spent her career shaping young minds with wisdom, patience, and a deep passion for learning. Known for her kindness and experiential teaching methods, she made a lasting impact on generations of students, many of whom still credit her for their love of education.

Schuler was born on May 6, 1922 near Welcome, Minnesota and lived on a farm with her parents, sister and two brothers. She attended rural School District 22, in Fox Lake Township. Schuler and her siblings were the only students from the “country” to attend school after 8th grade. “My parents valued education and directed us to attend high school. Since there were no school buses going to the school, my father drove us each morning and then picked us up at the end of the school day,” recalls Schuler. Additionally, her father sat the children down and discussed with them their goals after high school. Schuler’s sister took a very unusual route by attending business school and eventually worked at the Pentagon. Evelyn chose to attend Mankato State Teachers College and earned her teaching certificate in 1939. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in education. 

In 1948, she, her husband (Vern) and their three children (Judy, Richard and Robert) moved to Wheeling where all three attended what is now Whitman Elementary School. At the time, there were two grades in each room until the school consolidation started. The very next year, Schuler started teaching kindergarten in our district. Over the years, she taught first and third grade but her favorite time was teaching second grade general education. “I enjoyed presenting new material to children and giving them experiences they didn’t get at home. I loved to bring in caterpillars and tadpoles and teach the students about metamorphosis. One favorite assignment she gave the students was to lay down on a brown piece of paper and outline their body. Then, they would paint and decorate their ‘image’ and place the cut out on their chair for Parents Night so parents would know where their student sat and what their interests were,” she remembers. 

Even now, her remarkable life serves as a testament to the power of dedication and the enduring influence of a great teacher. “I still correspond with a former second grade student who now lives in Germany. We are planning to get together in Wheeling over the summer,” she states. In the meantime, Schuler resides in Indiana and enjoys reading, completing 1,000-piece puzzles and taking neighborhood walks. 

Her legacy continues through her three children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. It also continues to live on in the hearts of those she taught and the community she helped shape.