As we introduce the staff of The Auroran Today, of course we can’t leave out our advisor, Alex Rauenbuehler, or Raunie to the newspaper staff. She has been the advisor of the Journalism program for four years, and the program wouldn’t be what it is today without her. 

Inviting, confident, and good are three words Rauenbuehler uses to describe herself. 

Susan Orvis, Rauenbuehler’s high school basketball coach can be thanked for her inviting mentality. 

“She first hand showed me the importance that when you create a culture that other people belong to, the most important thing you can do is make everyone feel valued,” said Rauenbuehler.

 She does a stellar job at incorporating this into her classroom. She thrives on connections, not just between herself and her students, but also amongst her students. (She loves ice breakers).

Many people would describe Rauenbuehler as confident, including herself. 

“I feel like I attribute a lot of my success in life to being confident in who I am and in my abilities,” said Rauenbuehler

She had the confidence to split the journalism class into two separate classes, yearbook and newspaper and now has a thriving Journalism program because of that.

As simple as it sounds, Rauenbuehler also describes herself as good. This is a trait many people take for granted, but she flourishes on. 

“I really do feel a lot of good has come to my life because I make an intentional effort to be a good person,” said Rauenbuehler. 

Rauenbuehler also loves to spend some of her free time volunteering and is even one of the advisors of Key Club, along with her good friend Jen Keltner

One of her role models in the teaching world is Stacy Petersen, the woman she did her student teaching with. The short time they spent together shaped Rauenbuehler’s perspective on teaching. 

“Petersen modeled what it meant to be a good teacher, how to have good relationships with kids and how to hold them to high standards,” she said.

“I also am kind of average and basic, I am very aware that I am not an extraordinary person, I’m just kinda like this middle ground person, and I am so thrilled I am,” said Rauenbuehler.

Her humble perspective of herself is not something her students would agree on. She has this way of making everyone feel thought of and appreciated. Her room has this welcoming feel to it so when you walk in you feel at ease and comfortable. 

Even her love story is nothing but extraordinary. She tells this story with so much detail and enthusiasm a student sitting nearby leans in closer to get a better listen. Luke and her  met in fifth grade at a TAG(talented and gifted) field  trip.

“He was the annoying kid who wouldn’t get off the tire swing at lunch,” she said.

But they didn’t get to know each other until eighth grade when Rauenbuehler got a phone. Luke texted her in Hy-Vee when he heard the news and said, “Hey, heard you got a cell phone.” They started casually texting which prompted Rauenbuehler to break up with her boyfriend at the time. Their relationship went through a rough patch when Luke danced with someone else at the YMCA school dance. She finally forgave him but wouldn’t be his girlfriend until he asked properly.

“May 1st of 8th grade he wrote me a letter and stuck those purple weed violets in it and asked me out in person and I said yes. Now every year on May 1st he writes me a letter and picks me those little flowers,” said Rauenbuehler

They have been married for 6 years now and have two adorable kids together, Henry and Edith.

Her inviting personality, confident persona, and good intentions have made Rauenbuehler’s success in her professional life and family life possible. Her work in Journalism is unmatched.