Tell us about yourself!

For 25 years Rochelle has been driven to enable kids to think critically and creatively, express their ideas, questions and learning in varied and effective ways, and to bring joy to the learning and creative processes, while co-creating a safe, supportive and engaging community with her students each year. Mostly in southern California and now back in her hometown of Mercer Island, Rochelle has served as a classroom teacher to 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 9th graders and served as a K-6 librarian in private, charter and public schools. She is currently teaching 4th and 5th graders in a blended class at West Mercer Elementary School in the Mercer Island School District. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from WSU, as well as a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts from UW. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from UPS and Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College. Rochelle teaches yoga and mindful meditation in the local area and loves to be on and in the water in any way possible, especially paddle boarding – the way in which she first became a Seattle Kraken fan during the Expansion Draft on Lake Union this past summer!

Who is your favorite NHL® player and why?

I am so excited that our city has a NHL team and love the positive energy that the Kraken players bring to the ice. I’ve been to the Expansion Draft and 2 games so far (waiting for my 3rd to be released from postponement), and can’t wait to get to know the players better. But, I’ve gotta say, I love the way Yanni Gourde slams the puck in the net with his incredible full body follow through. Wow! And, who doesn’t love Gruuuuu…. Phillip Grubauer? He makes blocks where there should be gaps in the armor. Plus, he seems like a pretty low key humble guy.

What is your favorite part of the Future Goals™program? How do you see STEM in the game of hockey?

The level of engagement my kids had with Future Goals was fantastic! Seeing as I have a hockey player in myclass, there was a buy-in already on that front. The kids were hooked right away, and I cannot wait to continue to utilize Future Goals with more of our projects ahead, including the competitions. STEM is in everything in hockey – which the kids got right away too via the questions you posed, Hanna. The way the stadium and rink is created and maintained to the design of the sweaters (aka jerseys), to the angles and velocity in which players run the puck down the ice and score, STEM is in everything!

If you played hockey, what position would you play and why?

I think I’d play left or right wing forward, since I played that position in soccer and I love slamming shots across the court in tennis. I think it would even be super cool to rock those bibs as part of the ice crew.