Lifelong Cardinal Comet Now Gives Back to Our Teachers

Stephanie Bloomquist '98

Stephanie Ferrell began her journey with Cardinal Community School District in kindergarten. She called our district home through 12th-grade graduation. But we are glad to say that Ferrell can still be found walking through our hallways thanks to her role as our New Teacher Center (NTC) Instructional Coach. 

Ferrell coaches our first- and second-year teachers, spending two to three years mentoring and supporting them as they learn the ropes. Having been a teacher herself, she shares her experience and provides feedback that helps our newest teachers sharpen their skills and grow their confidence.

“I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a teacher,” Ferrell says. “I wanted to become a teacher to be able to make a positive difference in the future of children.”

She had some great examples to look up to during her time at Cardinal, citing Mr. Wixom as a favorite teacher and physical education class with Mr. Gerard. 

“Cardinal was and is like one big family,” Ferrell shares. “I knew that teachers and peers cared about me.”

Ferrell’s favorite memories at Cardinal include celebrating homecoming festivities, playing sports with her friends, and attending 5th Grade Camp. Today, she gets to re-experience her student life through her two kids who currently attend Cardinal. She’s thankful they will experience the same level of care that she did.

“Cardinal cares about the child as a whole,” Ferrell says. “We care about the child’s emotional and physical well-being as much as we care about academics.”

We are so thankful to have Ferrell on our team and proud that her very lessons as a student here have led her to help our students as a teacher and now our staff members as an instructional coach. 

“Cardinal has always been about relationships and how you treat people,” Ferrell says. “I was able to take those lessons and memories into my career as a teacher.”