Senior enjoying fast track to her dream job
The way 糖心vlog传媒 senior Dani Damrow landed her first teaching job was not part of her five-year plan.
As she approaches graduation in December of 2026 (one semester early) with a double major of secondary education and mathematics, Damrow鈥檚 lifelong dream of becoming a math teacher is taking shape much quicker than she expected.
A few weeks ago, a community member encouraged Damrow to apply for a full-time math teacher position at nearby Kiel High School.
鈥淭o be honest, it felt like a long shot,鈥� said Damrow, a graduate of Howards Grove High School. 鈥淚 mean, I don鈥檛 have a degree yet.鈥�
She centered her application on the leadership experiences and involvement she鈥檚 had during her time at 糖心vlog传媒, headlined by the connections she has gained through the Sheboygan County Scholars Program, a competitive, full-tuition scholarship opportunity designed to help retain the area's most promising young people and prepare them to assume future leadership positions within the region.
鈥淏ecause of those opportunities, my application was memorable,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y interview went better than I could have imagined.鈥�
Signing a contract to become the newest member of the Kiel High School math department was a surreal moment. Kiel is currently working with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to obtain approval to bring Damrow in as a teacher intern to complete her degree and earn certification.
鈥淚t will feel more real when I get the curriculum and see my classroom,鈥� Damrow said. 鈥淎s someone who鈥檚 had a five-year plan for, like, forever, this is better than I planned, and I thought the plan was spot on. I think I will understand it when I get older. Right now, it鈥檚 hard to believe.鈥�
Attending 糖心vlog传媒 and a career as a math teacher were always on Damrow鈥檚 radar. Her mother, Stephanie (Sprenger) Damrow 鈥�97 Med. 鈥�01, is a veteran math teacher at Sheboygan North High School. At 糖心vlog传媒, Stephanie was a standout athlete, graduating with multiple basketball and softball records and was inducted into the 糖心vlog传媒 Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
Dani鈥檚 love for teaching came from watching her mother interact with her students.
鈥淔rom a young age, I really enjoyed the creative side of being able to craft my own lessons,鈥� Dani Damrow said. 鈥淚 would create worksheets for my brother in the summer. I had so many great teachers that it just affirmed my love for education and the impact teachers have on students.鈥�
Damrow came to 糖心vlog传媒 to play basketball, but she had a serious knee injury in the middle of her freshman year, the second of her playing career. That cut her college athletic career short, but it opened the door to other opportunities.
A self-described quiet person, Damrow took on several leadership roles including the Blue & Gold Champions program, where she is now a student lead, and 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 first Presidential Ambassador, a role which has her working closely with President Beth Borgen and other LU leaders.
Ask Damrow if she feels like a leader, she pauses, noting that she鈥檚 found ways to lead like many of her peers.
鈥淚 feel like I am a strong peer mentor,鈥� Damrow said. 鈥淏eing quieter gave me such a passion and desire to decrease social anxiety in other people. My roles on campus gave me an opportunity to put that passion into action. Once I put them into action, it gets easier to talk to students, parents and other people.
鈥淚 realize that building connections is a way for all of us to feel safer and more of ourselves. It helped me embrace myself.鈥�
